The Planetary Society is hosting a meeting Feb. 12-13 2008 at Stanford University to review the current Vision for Space Exploration. As it stands, the VSE calls for retiring the Space Shuttle, completing the ISS, establishing a permanent moon base, and exploring Mars.

An article in Aviation Week & Space Technology suggests that various space experts and planetary managers (!) including Robert Farquhar may use the venue to propose an “Alternate Vision” to the current roadmap to space. This AVSE would de-emphasize near-earth objectives in favor of efforts further afield, such as landings on Mars and the asteroids.

For what little it’s worth, we here at G-M support going directly to Mars, and offer up NASA’s own words as to why we explore: “…to blaze new trails, map new lands, and answer profound questions about ourselves and our universe”. The Moon? …been there, done that.

…but then again…those who view war as art and are empathetic to aphorisms such as “You should occupy the raised and sunny spots” likely regard the moon to be a good standoff launch platform, and would vote accordingly.

However the real answer to the question “to the Moon, or Mars, or both?” likely lies in something as prosaic as the latest “The Budget and Economic Outlook: Fiscal Years 2008 to 2018” courtesy of the Congressional Budget Office, which suggests that the answer might well be ‘neither‘.

NASA May Abandon Moon Under Revised Exploration Vision - Aviation Week & Space Technology, Jan 20 2008

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