I recommend these videos by Dr. Robert Zubrin and Jeff Greason for some context: http://www.youtube.com/user/spacevidcast#p/search/7/d9J7HgnxK10 http://www.yout

I recommend these videos by Dr. Robert Zubrin and Jeff Greason for some context: http://www.youtube.com/user/spacevidcast#p/search/7/d9J7HgnxK10 http://www.youtube.com/user/spacevidcast#p/search/7/d9J7Hgnx... http://www.xcor.com/video/isdc.html http://www.xcor.com/video/isdc.html Essentially, NASA has lacked any concrete direction since the 70s, and projects like Constellation are stupid because they waste a lot of NASA money on developing NASA's own launch capacity. When NASA should just buy (or pay to upgrade) existing capacity such as the Delta IV Heavy or Falcon 9 to fit its needs. Most importantly, with development of launch capacity moved out of NASA, NASA will have to specify the ends, not the means. Being the party that sets the budget, makes the design, and implements the design is a very bad position to be in.