[XBob]

180 - "unless of course the US gets off it's collective arse and goes back to the Moon."

So, your goal is to go back to the same goal we had 40 years ago, and accomplished 35 years ago?

Why?

Why do you wish to re-invent the wagon wheel?

[RightWhale]

go back to the same goal we had 40 years ago

It won't be the same kiss and run that Apollo was. The goal this time would be to build something more permanent, both in space and on the moon. Not that we missed anything by not being on the moon the past 30 years. Except 30 years of my professional space career.

[Aracelis]

So, your goal is to go back to the same goal we had 40 years ago, and accomplished 35 years ago? Why? Why do you wish to re-invent the wagon wheel?

As you well know, we have no experience with permanent facilities on planets other than our own. A Lunar Base would give us valuable experience...and give us a decent platform from which to launch a Mars mission.