The problem is today we have an entrenched and embattled NASA. Just watched the full Robert Zubrin video that was linked elsewhere in the comments. NASA hasn't

The problem is today we have an entrenched and embattled NASA. Just watched the full Robert Zubrin video that was linked elsewhere in the comments. NASA hasn't been able to get to the Moon, or Mars, because NASA has been structurally incapable of deciding to 1) go to a destination, and 2) do only the things that help to get to that destination. Instead, everyone has to protect their turf and their technology, the net result being that NASA isn't allowed to go to the moon or to mars the easy way -- they have to invent a ridiculously complicated way that keeps all of their constituencies happy and their pet project funded.