Is Orion just an unfunded pipe dream?

As it has been 40 years since the first Apollo landing, will USA astronauts return to the moon within the next 40 years? Except possibly as hitch-hikers on Chinese or Indian moon missions?

Perhaps the USA will never find it politically expedient to commit sufficient resources to another manned moon mission until all Earthly problems have been solved? In that case, since Earthly problems are likely to continually worsen rather than improve, does this imply that we will never return?

Maybe if tech advances would make near-earth space travel dramatically less expensive, then it might be a no-brainer for a private enterprise? But as long as manned space missions remain so expensive that only the Feds can afford it, will we ever let loose the bucks to make it back to the moon?

James C Chandler Jr said:

As it has been 40 years since the first Apollo landing, will USA astronauts return to the moon within the next 40 years? Except possibly as hitch-hikers on Chinese or Indian moon missions?

Perhaps the USA will never find it politically expedient to commit sufficient resources to another manned moon mission until all Earthly problems have been solved? In that case, since Earthly problems are likely to continually worsen rather than improve, does this imply that we will never return?

Maybe if tech advances would make near-earth space travel dramatically less expensive, then it might be a no-brainer for a private enterprise? But as long as manned space missions remain so expensive that only the Feds can afford it, will we ever let loose the bucks to make it back to the moon?

1. As hitchhikers? At this particular point in time, I'd say "yes." That can change, however.

2. Yes, if we wait till all Earthly problems are solved. There are those among us, however, who realize that will likely NEVER happen and are not willing to wait. The current Administration notwithstanding.

3. Difficult to say. We MAY be on the cusp of commercial manned spaceflight. But folks have been looking forward to that since...oh...about 1945 or so. LOL

The current Administration, no matter what its other pluses and minuses has little interest in spaceflight. I would guess that it's a nuisance for them more than anything else. The only reason they will put money into NASA is that they are politically pressured by Senators and Representatives whose constituents want NASA $$$ and jobs. Never mind that we dumped enough money down the AGI toilet to return to the Moon. That don't matter. Never has, I'm afraid.

I am extremely dubious of the USA doing anything in this regard anytime soon. We stepped off the track after Apollo, and that and 'Nam's hangover pretty much closed the book. Not to worry. Either things will change in the US or the Chinese or the Indians or whomever will pick up the torch. I don't have to like that, but it is OK, and that is the way things go. Superpowers rise and superpowers fall. ;-(