[NonZeroSum]

There is a national security motive for us to maintain a manned spaceflight capability and to establish a lasting presence on the moon as quickly as possible.

If that's true, then a) the Pentagon should pay for it, not NASA and b) Constellation wasn't the way to do it.

[messierhunter]

If that's true, then a) the Pentagon should pay for it, not NASA and b) Constellation wasn't the way to do it.

You can maintain a manned spaceflight capability without the need for a literal military presence. A civilian program would suffice. Our mere presence on the moon and the ability to get there would guarantee that China nor anyone else could develop a military advantage there without our ability to challenge it. Additionally, it would guarantee our ability to launch a mission to any potentially threatening rocks so that we wouldn't have to leave it up to the Russians to do.