[singsong]

We've been here before. 30 years ago we were ready. It's never been robots versus people, it's been lack of proof of water on Mars. The proof is in, so there is no reason to sit back and twiddle our joysticks any longer.

Your enthusiasm is commendable, and may I say, contagious. Yes, it could (and should) have been done earlier. But it hasn't. A hard fact. I don't mind betting on horses, but I know this race better. You'll have to take it on faith.

---

The moon base should have been in operation for years by now, and without spending any more money than what was wasted on the Space Shuttle and ISS

Promises, promises...

[RightWhale]

Yes, it could (and should) have been done earlier. But it hasn't.

We can't look back. The waste of the past 30 years is gone. We can only build from this point on. The situation in Russia for Putin is similar, and even bigger, yet he is optimistic. Got to be. We can do this.