In this episode, the Book of Nature crew examines the question – possibly reinvigorated recently by the launch of Falcon Heavy, the next step en route to a heavy lift vehicle capable of Mars launches in the Space X arsenal – of whether we should first return to the Moon or set our sights somewhat higher (or rather farther out): Mars! Dan, Todd, and Charles grapple with this question, which has endured since the demise of the Apollo program in 1972.
Links of interest:
Advocating for Mars First:
http://www.planetary.org/get-involved/be-a-space-advocate/roadmap.html
https://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/atoms/files/journey-to-mars-next-steps-20151008_508.pdf
http://www.planetary.org/blogs/jason-davis/2016/20160927-spacex-unveils-mars-plans.html
Advocating for Moon First:
https://www.space.com/31009-america-needs-lunar-mission-first-not-mars.html
https://www.newscientist.com/article/2144864-chris-hadfield-we-should-live-on-the-moon-before-a-trip-to-mars/
https://www.theverge.com/2016/6/7/11868840/moon-return-journey-to-mars-nasa-congress-space-policy
http://www.syfy.com/syfywire/moon-vs-mars-why-nasa-should-set-its-sights-manned-lunar-mission-next
Highlighting the debate:
https://arstechnica.com/science/2016/12/time-to-choose-between-the-moon-and-mars-or-nasa-isnt-going-anywhere/
https://phys.org/news/2015-12-mars-moon.html
http://www.planetary.org/blogs/jason-davis/2017/20170126-moon-vs-mars-hsf.html
JFK Speech referred to by Charles in this episode:
https://er.jsc.nasa.gov/seh/ricetalk.htm