America’s space program is currently focused on the "Journey to Mars" - a hugely expensive undertaking approved by President Barack Obama in 2010. The (still hazy) plan is to fly astronauts around the red planet -- and possibly land there -- in the 2030s, bypassing the moon entirely. As a growing number of experts have cautioned, though, that could be a costly mistake. Getting back to the moon first makes more sense, both as a destination in its own right and as a way station en route to Mars.

I found this very interesting analysis on Wait But Why blog. A bit of a long read but totally worth it. What do you think about it?