Focus on Orion not Ares and the moon

[orienteer]

I haven't bought into Orion yet. Oceanic recovery doesn't thrill me. Remember Liberty 7? Soyuz has been landing on land, but I haven't figured out how they can have a ballistic reentry, be 150 miles off, and not land in a school yard or factory. Shuttles wings are too heavy for launch efficiency, but I wonder about a retractable wing so the heat shield can be smaller. Orion doesn't appear to have enough payload for serious sample returns. Anyway, without a clear cut mission, there is no reason for it, and Obama has made no hint at caring about anyone earning above minimum wage. Inner city stimulus for those in the hood.