[Resolute Conservative]

Funny how we went to the moon in about 8 years after we decided to go the first time and it will take 13 more to get back there. Law of diminishing returns in or education system in relation to graduating engineers, overly cautious, or money constraints. I say #2, with a little #1.

[allmendream]

The first time we went to the Moon our national interests were WAY on the line because of sputnik. This time it is more ‘gee wiz, wouldn't it be cool if...” and it is less of a priority. MOON BASE! Imagine how cheap satellite signaling will be if you could launch from the moon. No more unstable low decaying orbits either.

[Ancesthntr]

Funny how we went to the moon in about 8 years after we decided to go the first time and it will take 13 more to get back there. Law of diminishing returns in or education system in relation to graduating engineers, overly cautious, or money constraints. I say #2, with a little #1.

I noticed that, too. But its worse - this time we KNOW that it can be done, and a lot of the groundwork has been done. Back in '61, much of the certainty and much of the needed knowledge was just not there.

I think that its because we don't use any more German rocket scientists. They were used to doing things fast - or else - from the V-2 days. Seriously, there's no race against the Russkies anymore, its like the old hat that I got for my father one Father's Day: Dad Tours - we'll get there when we get there.