Looks like China will be on the moon within 8 years, and NASA won't. NASA will be concentrating on developing a nuclear interplanetary shuttle, yet another White Elephant to go with its ISS International Orbiting Black Hole.
The government can build initial infrastructure, and license companies to develop resources, but this isn't happening in America. It could happen in China and Russia; England, of course, is famous for licensing commerercial companies to develop resources beyond the border.
For unknown reasons the idea of vast arrays of solar cells on the moon has become popular. Asteroid mining is the way to go as far as I know.
The nuclear interplanetary shuttle has no mission, nor will ever have a mission worth the trouble.
NASA will be concentrating on developing a nuclear interplanetary shuttle, yet another White Elephant to go with its ISS International Orbiting Black Hole.
I disagree with you about the interplanetary shuttle. This country needs a solar system cruiser to establish our space dominance, although I agree with your assessment about the White Elephant.
The nuclear interplanetary shuttle has no mission, nor will ever have a mission worth the trouble.
Agree with the mining of asteroids. Disagree that such a shuttle would be worthless. First off its design could be the framework for a space truck for getting mining spoils back to Earth, or Moon, or where ever they would be processed. Two, there are no doubt other bodies to be explored and resources to be retrieved from other areas of the solar system. Why not have a nuclear powered craft that doesn't require the massive amounts of conventional fuel now used?