[camle]

I have absolutely no qualms about returning to the moon, nor going to Mars - the technology developed to do so would be worth trillions.

but why must it be the government that does this?

[MrNeutron1962]

"but why must it be the government that does this?"

Why, because the payoff will take more than 2 quarters to realize, therefore, no coporate bean counter would ever allow serious investment is space exploration.

[Moonman62]

I have absolutely no qualms about returning to the moon, nor going to Mars - the technology developed to do so would be worth trillions.

Don't you mean cost trillions?

but why must it be the government that does this?

Because W looks good in a flight suit, and it gives him another chance to spend more of our money. Karl Rove will make sure that W is the first president in space.