http://www.wired.com/news/technology...w=wn_tophead_7

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,108404,00.html

Well, the latter's more a Q&A form, but the gist is the same.

*****

Q: What is the president proposing?

A: To send astronauts back to the moon and establish an "extended
presence" there. Later in this century, astronauts would be sent on to
Mars.

Q: How much will this cost?

A: The president is proposing to add $1 billion to NASA's budget over
the next five years and to redirect funds now in the space agency budget
toward the moon-Mars plan. But that will be just the startup funds for
an effort that will take decades and hundreds of billions of dollars to
complete.

Q: What is planned for the moon?

A: The plan calls for exploration of the lunar surface by robot craft by
2008 and the landing of astronauts there as early as 2015 "with the goal
of living and working there for increasingly extended periods."

Q: How will astronauts get to the moon?

A: The president is calling for development of a new spacecraft, to be
called the*Crew Exploration Vehicle (search), which will be able to fly
to the moon. The first manned launch of the new craft would be no later
than 2014. The craft could also be used to ferry people between Earth
and the*International Space Station (search).

Q: When will astronauts go to the moon?

A: As early as 2015 and no later than 2020.

Q: What will astronauts do on the moon?

A: Mine resources from the lunar soil, including perhaps rocket fuel
from*helium-3 (search)*and from suspected water deposits. Astronauts
could use the moon to develop skills and technologies for use on other
missions, such as to Mars. The moon, which has gravity one-sixth that of
Earth, could also be used as an assembly stage and launch site for a
Mars expedition.

Q: What happens to the space shuttle?

A: Flaws detected in the shuttle after the Columbia accident last year
will be corrected and the winged craft will then be used to complete
construction of the International Space Station. The shuttle will be
retired by the end of this decade.

Q: What happens to the International Space Station?

A: Construction of the station with the space shuttle will be completed
by 2010, fulfilling the U.S. commitment to the 15 partner nations. U.S.
research on the orbiting laboratory will then focus on the effects of
long-term space flight on the human body.

Q: When will astronauts go to Mars?

A: No firm date has been announced, but some administration officials
suggested it would be after 2030.

Q: How will astronauts get to Mars?

A: The president's plan does not mention any plans for a spacecraft
capable of going to Mars and landing there. Presumably, another craft
would have to be designed, built and tested before a Mars expedition
could be mounted.

Q: What other technology will be needed?

A: Experts suggest that extended expeditions to the moon and Mars will
need some form of atom electrical power. Such systems are now being
developed by NASA. The agency is also working on an electric-ion rocket
engine that could accelerate the months-long journey between the Earth
and Mars. For an extended stay on the moon and Mars, NASA will also need
to develop shelters that could be transported, landed and installed.
Extended stays also may require a system to protect astronauts from
exposure to cosmic and solar radiation.

*****

(c) AP, 2004, I assume. Reproduced w/o permission.

--
-Andrew Gray