[weegee]

Look at NASA's post-moon misson accomplishments (especially considering the time frame) and you'll really be underwhelmed.

The astronauts I've talked with are put out with how little has been accomplished in the decades since.

[anymouse]

You are correct. Some Apollo astronauts, like Buzz, Harrison Schmitt, Pete Conrad and Joe Allen have gone on outside of NASA to move the space development ball forward.

Buzz through his space tourism advocacy, planetary cycler technology, alternative US/Russian space station design (which ISS ended up emulating) and reuseable launch vehicle designs.

Harrison Schmitt through his lunar Helium3 mining technology.

Pete Conrad through his lead on the innovative DC-X launch vehicle and plans for the follow-on Delta Clipper for both commercial and military (SDIO) use. Pete also founded a reuseable launch vehicle company and satellite control and communicatitions company before his untimely death.

Joe Allen headed a company, Space Services Inc. that launched the first privately financed and launched rocket back in 1984 off the Texas coast.

Also Byron Lichtenberg, a shuttle era astronaut has been active in space tourism and lunar exploration companies as well.

Not bad for a bunch of jet jocks. :)