[Narrew]

After reading a few books on space exploration, I tend to think that NASA has been a restricting force, intentionally or un-intentionally.

Robert Zubrin, you might have seen him on discovery type programs, he has written books on colonizing Mars ect...In one of the books of his I read, he gripes about the tunnel vision that NASA and space engine manufacturers have. Main thing there are ideas on the board that could turn one-time engines into reusable engines. Plus the lack of heavy lift engines.

Another author, Marshall Savage wrote "The Millennial Project". Discusses many ways for us to move out into space that have been on the books since the 60-70's.

Both seem to imply that we have went backwards space technology wise since we been to the moon. If we chart on a graph and projected where we would be today (based on conservative increase) from the moon mission days, we probably should have been on Mars sometime in the mid 80s *shrug*.

I doubt that NASA will be the leaders in the next wave of space exploration. It should be the private individuals. NASA is just too large, another bloated government agency. So my bet is on the private individuals.