Spoke Bob Zimmerman, author, "Universe in a Mirror," Sunday 19 on the 40th anniversary eve of the moon landing, and the likelihood of another American landing on the moon in the next two decades is slight to none. The prospect of an American led manned Mars mission is delusional. Even putting together US with Russia, Japan, India and China with the ESA lending weight does not identify a Mars base before 2050. The robot probes will continue because they are cheaper, surer and can be multi tasked with programs that attract quick results. A moon base near the South Pole is credible, yet a China moon base, perhaps a China base with the irony of a Japan co-development (irony plus) is imaginable. NASA is not now a credible player for 2020 and beyond.   The Obama administration is a NASA caretaker regime, a museum talkfest of what-ifs, and some spectacular bots like Kepler.