It is hard to write the truth down on paper, if you do not know the whole story.
There are reasons that for us to abandon the moon project and to tackle the much more pressing problem using Aster as the lesson plan.

The earth is going to have a very close incounter with an asteroid in 2012. The Russians say it is going to hit the earth, but NASA says it will miss. But if the next calculations are correct it will hit the earth on its next pass in 2038.

So now you tell me what is more important for the USA. TO plan on going to the moon or to find a way to land on an asteroid.

If I understand what they are trying to do, it is not really a landing, but just to bring a space craft along side of the asteroid. The theroy is that the gravitational pull of the space craft over a long distance will deviate the course of the asteroid just a little, but just enough to miss the earth.

They have to do this from a great distance away from the earth to achieve success.
And as for the Hippy who doesn't like anything this country is doing, You are outdated, and missinformed. You haven't changed since the days of Vietnam.
You will be the first one to cry out, ( WHY ISN'T THE USA DOING ANYTHING ABOUT THIS.. ) I DON'T WANT TO DIE ,, HELP !
Ha ha,, so be at peace and stick your head in the sand.