Let’s Aim Higher

On July 20, 1969, Neil Armstrong took that “giant leap for mankind” as the first man to walk on the moon. Then, just 3 ½ years later, on Dec. 14, 1972, Gene Cernan became the last man to stride the lunar surface.

Today, US astronauts must rely on Russian rockets to travel to and from the International Space Station, just 250 miles above the Earth’s surface. (The moon is a 240,000mile trip.)

NASA is building new launch capacity in hopes of a return to the moon (with the first woman) by 2024. And it’s looking to put a station, Gateway, in permanent lunar orbit as a key stage in manned trips to Mars.

Meanwhile, several private US companies are building their own launch capabilities, helping to supply the international station and aiming to drive down costs to make “space tourism” profitable.

And, of course, multiple nations have at

least satellite-launch capacity. (Indeed, commercial exploitation of space is part of daily life, starting with GPS.) Most significantly, China is pushing its own manned space program hard, and might yet launch the next mission to the moon.

Planting a seventh flag on the moon, and even a permanent lunar base, are worthy goals, as is making it to Mars.

Yet it feels like the United States should aim higher — past Mars, to the asteroid belt and beyond.

The asteroids clearly entice: Just one mass in the belt, 16 Psyche, contains an estimated $700 quintillion worth of precious metals and minerals. And the moons of the outer planets may turn out to be the best places in the Solar System for off-Earth human habitation.

Beyond following in the footsteps of the 12 who have walked the moon, America should aim for more giant leaps into a truly new frontier.