NASA has done more than enough exploration and science to last for centuries. It is time to start using that quasi-valuable knowledge by establishing human outposts on the moon and Mars. Either that or repeal the Treaty so space development can begin.
Bingo! Thank you...
The 2007 ISDC which will be held in Dallas with my club as the host has as its theme, 2007 The New Frontier.
As a historian I can tell you that the Frontier thesis goes a long way in explaining our society and civilization's success.
Why were covered wagons built? Why was the call: "Wagon Trains West!", Why did we fill up the continent between 1776 and 1876?
The answer is simple. The US government offered land grants for exploration. It funded roads and then railroads to carry the people and luggage Westward. It fostered industrial development by offering incentives for INDUSTRIALIZATION!
Yeah exploration and scientific discovery is nice but if you want to really impact our society, indeed all of humanity, then we must prioritize with Space Exploitation first and Science can occur along the way to the stars.
And the Apollo Asteroids, Europa, Ceres, Titan, The Oort Cloud...toss all the worthless hamstringing treaties and private enterprise could take us there way faster than NASA ever could.