[jyl]

I am not trying to make a point here, I am genuinely confused.

As I understand it, the thrust of our manned space program is to establish a moonbase and eventually to reach Mars. We are retiring the Space Shuttle in 2010, developing Orion (sort of an Apollo like ship and moon lander) which is scheduled to fly 2015, and presumably heading moonward after that. I don't hear anything about new space stations or expanding the International Space Station. This was the plan formulated in the Bush Administration and the Obama administration does not appear to be changing it.

So my question is, what is the rationale for this? Why do we want to return to the moon, is there something interesting that we did not find during Apollo? Why do we want a moonbase? Is a moonbase expected to be a jumping-off spot for Mars, and why?

Any insight on this would be appreciated.