On 2020-07-18 11:56 AM, Alain Fournier wrote:
Personally, I don't see the point. I'm waiting for Starship and New
Armstrong to fly. Once those rockets are flying (at least one of them),
making plans for Lunar missions will be much easier. If those rockets
work as expected, it seems to me that someone somewhere will obviously
decide to plan a mission, if not to the moon, then to Mars, probably both.

While I largely agree, I credit Dr. Zubrin for often pointing out the
path not taken. (Mars Direct, Moon Direct, etc.). I used to be a critic
of the Zubrin approach, esp. one-way crewed missions to Mars. Still not
a particular fan of that idea, but I have to give credit to Dr. Zubrin
for making a whole lot more from a whole lot less.

We actually have largely in hand the infrastructure needed to go back to
the Moon. In Falcon and Dragon. Modifications would be needed but not
necessarily massive changes. Instead we wait for better solutions,
whether it be SLS/Orion/EUS/Artemis-lander or Starship or New Armstrong.

SLS/Orion/... being the worst examples in my opinion.

I am convinced we could be back on the Moon within a few years time had
the money spent on SLS/Orion etc. instead been used to evolve Falcon and
Crew Dragon. I don't see the compelling reason to wait for Starship.
It'll be grand once it is there, but NASA didn't need to wait for it but
could have invested in what SpaceX already has at hand today. If only.

Dave