CINXE.COM

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML+RDFa 1.0//EN" "http://www.w3.org/MarkUp/DTD/xhtml-rdfa-1.dtd"> <html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" version="XHTML+RDFa 1.0" dir="ltr" prefix="og: http://ogp.me/ns# article: http://ogp.me/ns/article# book: http://ogp.me/ns/book# profile: http://ogp.me/ns/profile# video: http://ogp.me/ns/video# product: http://ogp.me/ns/product# c: http://s.opencalais.com/1/pred/ sys: http://s.opencalais.com/1/type/sys/ lid: http://s.opencalais.com/1/type/lid/ cat: http://s.opencalais.com/1/type/cat/ resolved: http://s.opencalais.com/1/type/er/ cgeo: http://s.opencalais.com/1/type/er/Geo/ eventfact: http://s.opencalais.com/1/type/em/r/ entity: http://s.opencalais.com/1/type/em/e/ cld: http://s.opencalais.com/1/linkeddata/pred/ content: http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/ dc: http://purl.org/dc/terms/ foaf: http://xmlns.com/foaf/0.1/ rdfs: http://www.w3.org/2000/01/rdf-schema# sioc: http://rdfs.org/sioc/ns# sioct: http://rdfs.org/sioc/types# skos: http://www.w3.org/2004/02/skos/core# xsd: http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#"> <head profile="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml/vocab"><script type="text/javascript" src="/_static/js/bundle-playback.js?v=HxkREWBo" charset="utf-8"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/_static/js/wombat.js?v=txqj7nKC" charset="utf-8"></script> <script>window.RufflePlayer=window.RufflePlayer||{};window.RufflePlayer.config={"autoplay":"on","unmuteOverlay":"hidden"};</script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/_static/js/ruffle/ruffle.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript"> __wm.init("https://web.archive.org/web"); __wm.wombat("https://thehill.com/opinion/technology/392611-nasas-unnecessary-504-million-lunar-orbit-project-doesnt-help-us-get-back","20191114223317","https://web.archive.org/","web","/_static/", "1573770797"); </script> <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="/_static/css/banner-styles.css?v=S1zqJCYt" /> <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="/_static/css/iconochive.css?v=3PDvdIFv" />  <script type="text/javascript"> var iPad = (navigator.userAgent.match(/(iPad)/) || (navigator.platform === 'MacIntel' && navigator.maxTouchPoints > 1)); </script> <script type="text/javascript"> if (!iPad) { var meta = document.createElement('meta'); meta.name = "viewport"; meta.content = "width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0"; document.getElementsByTagName('head')[0].appendChild(meta); } </script> <meta charset="utf-8"/><script type="text/javascript">(window.NREUM||(NREUM={})).loader_config={xpid:"XAcAVFVADAsBVFhQBQM=",licenseKey:"962df17ac8",applicationID:"48109222"};window.NREUM||(NREUM={}),__nr_require=function(t,n,e){function r(e){if(!n[e]){var o=n[e]={exports:{}};t[e][0].call(o.exports,function(n){var o=t[e][1][n];return r(o||n)},o,o.exports)}return n[e].exports}if("function"==typeof __nr_require)return __nr_require;for(var o=0;o<e.length;o++)r(e[o]);return r}({1:[function(t,n,e){function r(t){try{s.console&&console.log(t)}catch(n){}}var o,i=t("ee"),a=t(18),s={};try{o=localStorage.getItem("__nr_flags").split(","),console&&"function"==typeof console.log&&(s.console=!0,o.indexOf("dev")!==-1&&(s.dev=!0),o.indexOf("nr_dev")!==-1&&(s.nrDev=!0))}catch(c){}s.nrDev&&i.on("internal-error",function(t){r(t.stack)}),s.dev&&i.on("fn-err",function(t,n,e){r(e.stack)}),s.dev&&(r("NR AGENT IN DEVELOPMENT MODE"),r("flags: "+a(s,function(t,n){return t}).join(", ")))},{}],2:[function(t,n,e){function r(t,n,e,r,s){try{p?p-=1:o(s||new UncaughtException(t,n,e),!0)}catch(f){try{i("ierr",[f,c.now(),!0])}catch(d){}}return"function"==typeof u&&u.apply(this,a(arguments))}function UncaughtException(t,n,e){this.message=t||"Uncaught error with no additional information",this.sourceURL=n,this.line=e}function o(t,n){var e=n?null:c.now();i("err",[t,e])}var i=t("handle"),a=t(19),s=t("ee"),c=t("loader"),f=t("gos"),u=window.onerror,d=!1,l="nr@seenError",p=0;c.features.err=!0,t(1),window.onerror=r;try{throw new Error}catch(h){"stack"in h&&(t(8),t(7),"addEventListener"in window&&t(5),c.xhrWrappable&&t(9),d=!0)}s.on("fn-start",function(t,n,e){d&&(p+=1)}),s.on("fn-err",function(t,n,e){d&&!e[l]&&(f(e,l,function(){return!0}),this.thrown=!0,o(e))}),s.on("fn-end",function(){d&&!this.thrown&&p>0&&(p-=1)}),s.on("internal-error",function(t){i("ierr",[t,c.now(),!0])})},{}],3:[function(t,n,e){t("loader").features.ins=!0},{}],4:[function(t,n,e){function r(t){}if(window.performance&&window.performance.timing&&window.performance.getEntriesByType){var o=t("ee"),i=t("handle"),a=t(8),s=t(7),c="learResourceTimings",f="addEventListener",u="resourcetimingbufferfull",d="bstResource",l="resource",p="-start",h="-end",m="fn"+p,w="fn"+h,v="bstTimer",y="pushState",g=t("loader");g.features.stn=!0,t(6);var x=NREUM.o.EV;o.on(m,function(t,n){var e=t[0];e instanceof x&&(this.bstStart=g.now())}),o.on(w,function(t,n){var e=t[0];e instanceof x&&i("bst",[e,n,this.bstStart,g.now()])}),a.on(m,function(t,n,e){this.bstStart=g.now(),this.bstType=e}),a.on(w,function(t,n){i(v,[n,this.bstStart,g.now(),this.bstType])}),s.on(m,function(){this.bstStart=g.now()}),s.on(w,function(t,n){i(v,[n,this.bstStart,g.now(),"requestAnimationFrame"])}),o.on(y+p,function(t){this.time=g.now(),this.startPath=location.pathname+location.hash}),o.on(y+h,function(t){i("bstHist",[location.pathname+location.hash,this.startPath,this.time])}),f in window.performance&&(window.performance["c"+c]?window.performance[f](u,function(t){i(d,[window.performance.getEntriesByType(l)]),window.performance["c"+c]()},!1):window.performance[f]("webkit"+u,function(t){i(d,[window.performance.getEntriesByType(l)]),window.performance["webkitC"+c]()},!1)),document[f]("scroll",r,{passive:!0}),document[f]("keypress",r,!1),document[f]("click",r,!1)}},{}],5:[function(t,n,e){function r(t){for(var n=t;n&&!n.hasOwnProperty(u);)n=Object.getPrototypeOf(n);n&&o(n)}function o(t){s.inPlace(t,[u,d],"-",i)}function i(t,n){return t[1]}var a=t("ee").get("events"),s=t(21)(a,!0),c=t("gos"),f=XMLHttpRequest,u="addEventListener",d="removeEventListener";n.exports=a,"getPrototypeOf"in Object?(r(document),r(window),r(f.prototype)):f.prototype.hasOwnProperty(u)&&(o(window),o(f.prototype)),a.on(u+"-start",function(t,n){var e=t[1],r=c(e,"nr@wrapped",function(){function t(){if("function"==typeof e.handleEvent)return e.handleEvent.apply(e,arguments)}var n={object:t,"function":e}[typeof e];return n?s(n,"fn-",null,n.name||"anonymous"):e});this.wrapped=t[1]=r}),a.on(d+"-start",function(t){t[1]=this.wrapped||t[1]})},{}],6:[function(t,n,e){var r=t("ee").get("history"),o=t(21)(r);n.exports=r;var i=window.history&&window.history.constructor&&window.history.constructor.prototype,a=window.history;i&&i.pushState&&i.replaceState&&(a=i),o.inPlace(a,["pushState","replaceState"],"-")},{}],7:[function(t,n,e){var r=t("ee").get("raf"),o=t(21)(r),i="equestAnimationFrame";n.exports=r,o.inPlace(window,["r"+i,"mozR"+i,"webkitR"+i,"msR"+i],"raf-"),r.on("raf-start",function(t){t[0]=o(t[0],"fn-")})},{}],8:[function(t,n,e){function r(t,n,e){t[0]=a(t[0],"fn-",null,e)}function o(t,n,e){this.method=e,this.timerDuration=isNaN(t[1])?0:+t[1],t[0]=a(t[0],"fn-",this,e)}var i=t("ee").get("timer"),a=t(21)(i),s="setTimeout",c="setInterval",f="clearTimeout",u="-start",d="-";n.exports=i,a.inPlace(window,[s,"setImmediate"],s+d),a.inPlace(window,[c],c+d),a.inPlace(window,[f,"clearImmediate"],f+d),i.on(c+u,r),i.on(s+u,o)},{}],9:[function(t,n,e){function r(t,n){d.inPlace(n,["onreadystatechange"],"fn-",s)}function o(){var t=this,n=u.context(t);t.readyState>3&&!n.resolved&&(n.resolved=!0,u.emit("xhr-resolved",[],t)),d.inPlace(t,y,"fn-",s)}function i(t){g.push(t),h&&(b?b.then(a):w?w(a):(E=-E,R.data=E))}function a(){for(var t=0;t<g.length;t++)r([],g[t]);g.length&&(g=[])}function s(t,n){return n}function c(t,n){for(var e in t)n[e]=t[e];return n}t(5);var f=t("ee"),u=f.get("xhr"),d=t(21)(u),l=NREUM.o,p=l.XHR,h=l.MO,m=l.PR,w=l.SI,v="readystatechange",y=["onload","onerror","onabort","onloadstart","onloadend","onprogress","ontimeout"],g=[];n.exports=u;var x=window.XMLHttpRequest=function(t){var n=new p(t);try{u.emit("new-xhr",[n],n),n.addEventListener(v,o,!1)}catch(e){try{u.emit("internal-error",[e])}catch(r){}}return n};if(c(p,x),x.prototype=p.prototype,d.inPlace(x.prototype,["open","send"],"-xhr-",s),u.on("send-xhr-start",function(t,n){r(t,n),i(n)}),u.on("open-xhr-start",r),h){var b=m&&m.resolve();if(!w&&!m){var E=1,R=document.createTextNode(E);new h(a).observe(R,{characterData:!0})}}else f.on("fn-end",function(t){t[0]&&t[0].type===v||a()})},{}],10:[function(t,n,e){function r(){var t=window.NREUM,n=t.info.accountID||null,e=t.info.agentID||null,r=t.info.trustKey||null,i="btoa"in window&&"function"==typeof window.btoa;if(!n||!e||!i)return null;var a={v:[0,1],d:{ty:"Browser",ac:n,ap:e,id:o.generateCatId(),tr:o.generateCatId(),ti:Date.now()}};return r&&n!==r&&(a.d.tk=r),btoa(JSON.stringify(a))}var o=t(16);n.exports={generateTraceHeader:r}},{}],11:[function(t,n,e){function r(t){var n=this.params,e=this.metrics;if(!this.ended){this.ended=!0;for(var r=0;r<p;r++)t.removeEventListener(l[r],this.listener,!1);n.aborted||(e.duration=s.now()-this.startTime,this.loadCaptureCalled||4!==t.readyState?null==n.status&&(n.status=0):a(this,t),e.cbTime=this.cbTime,d.emit("xhr-done",[t],t),c("xhr",[n,e,this.startTime]))}}function o(t,n){var e=t.responseType;if("json"===e&&null!==n)return n;var r="arraybuffer"===e||"blob"===e||"json"===e?t.response:t.responseText;return w(r)}function i(t,n){var e=f(n),r=t.params;r.host=e.hostname+":"+e.port,r.pathname=e.pathname,t.sameOrigin=e.sameOrigin}function a(t,n){t.params.status=n.status;var e=o(n,t.lastSize);if(e&&(t.metrics.rxSize=e),t.sameOrigin){var r=n.getResponseHeader("X-NewRelic-App-Data");r&&(t.params.cat=r.split(", ").pop())}t.loadCaptureCalled=!0}var s=t("loader");if(s.xhrWrappable){var c=t("handle"),f=t(12),u=t(10).generateTraceHeader,d=t("ee"),l=["load","error","abort","timeout"],p=l.length,h=t("id"),m=t(15),w=t(14),v=window.XMLHttpRequest;s.features.xhr=!0,t(9),d.on("new-xhr",function(t){var n=this;n.totalCbs=0,n.called=0,n.cbTime=0,n.end=r,n.ended=!1,n.xhrGuids={},n.lastSize=null,n.loadCaptureCalled=!1,t.addEventListener("load",function(e){a(n,t)},!1),m&&(m>34||m<10)||window.opera||t.addEventListener("progress",function(t){n.lastSize=t.loaded},!1)}),d.on("open-xhr-start",function(t){this.params={method:t[0]},i(this,t[1]),this.metrics={}}),d.on("open-xhr-end",function(t,n){"loader_config"in NREUM&&"xpid"in NREUM.loader_config&&this.sameOrigin&&n.setRequestHeader("X-NewRelic-ID",NREUM.loader_config.xpid);var e=!1;if("init"in NREUM&&"distributed_tracing"in NREUM.init&&(e=!!NREUM.init.distributed_tracing.enabled),e&&this.sameOrigin){var r=u();r&&n.setRequestHeader("newrelic",r)}}),d.on("send-xhr-start",function(t,n){var e=this.metrics,r=t[0],o=this;if(e&&r){var i=w(r);i&&(e.txSize=i)}this.startTime=s.now(),this.listener=function(t){try{"abort"!==t.type||o.loadCaptureCalled||(o.params.aborted=!0),("load"!==t.type||o.called===o.totalCbs&&(o.onloadCalled||"function"!=typeof n.onload))&&o.end(n)}catch(e){try{d.emit("internal-error",[e])}catch(r){}}};for(var a=0;a<p;a++)n.addEventListener(l[a],this.listener,!1)}),d.on("xhr-cb-time",function(t,n,e){this.cbTime+=t,n?this.onloadCalled=!0:this.called+=1,this.called!==this.totalCbs||!this.onloadCalled&&"function"==typeof e.onload||this.end(e)}),d.on("xhr-load-added",function(t,n){var e=""+h(t)+!!n;this.xhrGuids&&!this.xhrGuids[e]&&(this.xhrGuids[e]=!0,this.totalCbs+=1)}),d.on("xhr-load-removed",function(t,n){var e=""+h(t)+!!n;this.xhrGuids&&this.xhrGuids[e]&&(delete this.xhrGuids[e],this.totalCbs-=1)}),d.on("addEventListener-end",function(t,n){n instanceof v&&"load"===t[0]&&d.emit("xhr-load-added",[t[1],t[2]],n)}),d.on("removeEventListener-end",function(t,n){n instanceof v&&"load"===t[0]&&d.emit("xhr-load-removed",[t[1],t[2]],n)}),d.on("fn-start",function(t,n,e){n instanceof v&&("onload"===e&&(this.onload=!0),("load"===(t[0]&&t[0].type)||this.onload)&&(this.xhrCbStart=s.now()))}),d.on("fn-end",function(t,n){this.xhrCbStart&&d.emit("xhr-cb-time",[s.now()-this.xhrCbStart,this.onload,n],n)})}},{}],12:[function(t,n,e){n.exports=function(t){var n=document.createElement("a"),e=window.location,r={};n.href=t,r.port=n.port;var o=n.href.split("://");!r.port&&o[1]&&(r.port=o[1].split("/")[0].split("@").pop().split(":")[1]),r.port&&"0"!==r.port||(r.port="https"===o[0]?"443":"80"),r.hostname=n.hostname||e.hostname,r.pathname=n.pathname,r.protocol=o[0],"/"!==r.pathname.charAt(0)&&(r.pathname="/"+r.pathname);var i=!n.protocol||":"===n.protocol||n.protocol===e.protocol,a=n.hostname===document.domain&&n.port===e.port;return r.sameOrigin=i&&(!n.hostname||a),r}},{}],13:[function(t,n,e){function r(){}function o(t,n,e){return function(){return i(t,[f.now()].concat(s(arguments)),n?null:this,e),n?void 0:this}}var i=t("handle"),a=t(18),s=t(19),c=t("ee").get("tracer"),f=t("loader"),u=NREUM;"undefined"==typeof window.newrelic&&(newrelic=u);var d=["setPageViewName","setCustomAttribute","setErrorHandler","finished","addToTrace","inlineHit","addRelease"],l="api-",p=l+"ixn-";a(d,function(t,n){u[n]=o(l+n,!0,"api")}),u.addPageAction=o(l+"addPageAction",!0),u.setCurrentRouteName=o(l+"routeName",!0),n.exports=newrelic,u.interaction=function(){return(new r).get()};var h=r.prototype={createTracer:function(t,n){var e={},r=this,o="function"==typeof n;return i(p+"tracer",[f.now(),t,e],r),function(){if(c.emit((o?"":"no-")+"fn-start",[f.now(),r,o],e),o)try{return n.apply(this,arguments)}catch(t){throw c.emit("fn-err",[arguments,this,t],e),t}finally{c.emit("fn-end",[f.now()],e)}}}};a("actionText,setName,setAttribute,save,ignore,onEnd,getContext,end,get".split(","),function(t,n){h[n]=o(p+n)}),newrelic.noticeError=function(t,n){"string"==typeof t&&(t=new Error(t)),i("err",[t,f.now(),!1,n])}},{}],14:[function(t,n,e){n.exports=function(t){if("string"==typeof t&&t.length)return t.length;if("object"==typeof t){if("undefined"!=typeof ArrayBuffer&&t instanceof ArrayBuffer&&t.byteLength)return t.byteLength;if("undefined"!=typeof Blob&&t instanceof Blob&&t.size)return t.size;if(!("undefined"!=typeof FormData&&t instanceof FormData))try{return JSON.stringify(t).length}catch(n){return}}}},{}],15:[function(t,n,e){var r=0,o=navigator.userAgent.match(/Firefox[\/\s](\d+\.\d+)/);o&&(r=+o[1]),n.exports=r},{}],16:[function(t,n,e){function r(){function t(){return n?15&n[e++]:16*Math.random()|0}var n=null,e=0,r=window.crypto||window.msCrypto;r&&r.getRandomValues&&(n=r.getRandomValues(new Uint8Array(31)));for(var o,i="xxxxxxxx-xxxx-4xxx-yxxx-xxxxxxxxxxxx",a="",s=0;s<i.length;s++)o=i[s],"x"===o?a+=t().toString(16):"y"===o?(o=3&t()|8,a+=o.toString(16)):a+=o;return a}function o(){function t(){return n?15&n[e++]:16*Math.random()|0}var n=null,e=0,r=window.crypto||window.msCrypto;r&&r.getRandomValues&&Uint8Array&&(n=r.getRandomValues(new Uint8Array(31)));for(var o=[],i=0;i<16;i++)o.push(t().toString(16));return o.join("")}n.exports={generateUuid:r,generateCatId:o}},{}],17:[function(t,n,e){function r(t,n){if(!o)return!1;if(t!==o)return!1;if(!n)return!0;if(!i)return!1;for(var e=i.split("."),r=n.split("."),a=0;a<r.length;a++)if(r[a]!==e[a])return!1;return!0}var o=null,i=null,a=/Version\/(\S+)\s+Safari/;if(navigator.userAgent){var s=navigator.userAgent,c=s.match(a);c&&s.indexOf("Chrome")===-1&&s.indexOf("Chromium")===-1&&(o="Safari",i=c[1])}n.exports={agent:o,version:i,match:r}},{}],18:[function(t,n,e){function r(t,n){var e=[],r="",i=0;for(r in t)o.call(t,r)&&(e[i]=n(r,t[r]),i+=1);return e}var o=Object.prototype.hasOwnProperty;n.exports=r},{}],19:[function(t,n,e){function r(t,n,e){n||(n=0),"undefined"==typeof e&&(e=t?t.length:0);for(var r=-1,o=e-n||0,i=Array(o<0?0:o);++r<o;)i[r]=t[n+r];return i}n.exports=r},{}],20:[function(t,n,e){n.exports={exists:"undefined"!=typeof window.performance&&window.performance.timing&&"undefined"!=typeof window.performance.timing.navigationStart}},{}],21:[function(t,n,e){function r(t){return!(t&&t instanceof Function&&t.apply&&!t[a])}var o=t("ee"),i=t(19),a="nr@original",s=Object.prototype.hasOwnProperty,c=!1;n.exports=function(t,n){function e(t,n,e,o){function nrWrapper(){var r,a,s,c;try{a=this,r=i(arguments),s="function"==typeof e?e(r,a):e||{}}catch(f){l([f,"",[r,a,o],s])}u(n+"start",[r,a,o],s);try{return c=t.apply(a,r)}catch(d){throw u(n+"err",[r,a,d],s),d}finally{u(n+"end",[r,a,c],s)}}return r(t)?t:(n||(n=""),nrWrapper[a]=t,d(t,nrWrapper),nrWrapper)}function f(t,n,o,i){o||(o="");var a,s,c,f="-"===o.charAt(0);for(c=0;c<n.length;c++)s=n[c],a=t[s],r(a)||(t[s]=e(a,f?s+o:o,i,s))}function u(e,r,o){if(!c||n){var i=c;c=!0;try{t.emit(e,r,o,n)}catch(a){l([a,e,r,o])}c=i}}function d(t,n){if(Object.defineProperty&&Object.keys)try{var e=Object.keys(t);return e.forEach(function(e){Object.defineProperty(n,e,{get:function(){return t[e]},set:function(n){return t[e]=n,n}})}),n}catch(r){l([r])}for(var o in t)s.call(t,o)&&(n[o]=t[o]);return n}function l(n){try{t.emit("internal-error",n)}catch(e){}}return t||(t=o),e.inPlace=f,e.flag=a,e}},{}],ee:[function(t,n,e){function r(){}function o(t){function n(t){return t&&t instanceof r?t:t?c(t,s,i):i()}function e(e,r,o,i){if(!l.aborted||i){t&&t(e,r,o);for(var a=n(o),s=m(e),c=s.length,f=0;f<c;f++)s[f].apply(a,r);var d=u[g[e]];return d&&d.push([x,e,r,a]),a}}function p(t,n){y[t]=m(t).concat(n)}function h(t,n){var e=y[t];if(e)for(var r=0;r<e.length;r++)e[r]===n&&e.splice(r,1)}function m(t){return y[t]||[]}function w(t){return d[t]=d[t]||o(e)}function v(t,n){f(t,function(t,e){n=n||"feature",g[e]=n,n in u||(u[n]=[])})}var y={},g={},x={on:p,addEventListener:p,removeEventListener:h,emit:e,get:w,listeners:m,context:n,buffer:v,abort:a,aborted:!1};return x}function i(){return new r}function a(){(u.api||u.feature)&&(l.aborted=!0,u=l.backlog={})}var s="nr@context",c=t("gos"),f=t(18),u={},d={},l=n.exports=o();l.backlog=u},{}],gos:[function(t,n,e){function r(t,n,e){if(o.call(t,n))return t[n];var r=e();if(Object.defineProperty&&Object.keys)try{return Object.defineProperty(t,n,{value:r,writable:!0,enumerable:!1}),r}catch(i){}return t[n]=r,r}var o=Object.prototype.hasOwnProperty;n.exports=r},{}],handle:[function(t,n,e){function r(t,n,e,r){o.buffer([t],r),o.emit(t,n,e)}var o=t("ee").get("handle");n.exports=r,r.ee=o},{}],id:[function(t,n,e){function r(t){var n=typeof t;return!t||"object"!==n&&"function"!==n?-1:t===window?0:a(t,i,function(){return o++})}var o=1,i="nr@id",a=t("gos");n.exports=r},{}],loader:[function(t,n,e){function r(){if(!E++){var t=b.info=NREUM.info,n=p.getElementsByTagName("script")[0];if(setTimeout(u.abort,3e4),!(t&&t.licenseKey&&t.applicationID&&n))return u.abort();f(g,function(n,e){t[n]||(t[n]=e)}),c("mark",["onload",a()+b.offset],null,"api");var e=p.createElement("script");e.src="https://"+t.agent,n.parentNode.insertBefore(e,n)}}function o(){"complete"===p.readyState&&i()}function i(){c("mark",["domContent",a()+b.offset],null,"api")}function a(){return R.exists&&performance.now?Math.round(performance.now()):(s=Math.max((new Date).getTime(),s))-b.offset}var s=(new Date).getTime(),c=t("handle"),f=t(18),u=t("ee"),d=t(17),l=window,p=l.document,h="addEventListener",m="attachEvent",w=l.XMLHttpRequest,v=w&&w.prototype;NREUM.o={ST:setTimeout,SI:l.setImmediate,CT:clearTimeout,XHR:w,REQ:l.Request,EV:l.Event,PR:l.Promise,MO:l.MutationObserver};var y=""+location,g={beacon:"bam.nr-data.net",errorBeacon:"bam.nr-data.net",agent:"js-agent.newrelic.com/nr-1130.min.js"},x=w&&v&&v[h]&&!/CriOS/.test(navigator.userAgent),b=n.exports={offset:s,now:a,origin:y,features:{},xhrWrappable:x,userAgent:d};t(13),p[h]?(p[h]("DOMContentLoaded",i,!1),l[h]("load",r,!1)):(p[m]("onreadystatechange",o),l[m]("onload",r)),c("mark",["firstbyte",s],null,"api");var E=0,R=t(20)},{}]},{},["loader",2,11,4,3]);</script> <script>var _sf_startpt=(new Date()).getTime();</script> <link rel="amphtml" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191114223317/https://thehill.com/opinion/technology/392611-nasas-unnecessary-504-million-lunar-orbit-project-doesnt-help-us-get-back?amp"/> <meta property="author" content="Mark Whittington, opinion contributor"/> <link rel="shortcut icon" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191114223317im_/https://thehill.com/favicon.ico" type="image/vnd.microsoft.icon"/> <meta name="description" content="The lunar orbiting space station is not necessary for men to go to the moon and back."/> <meta name="keywords" content="Mark Whittington, Moon, NASA, Space exploration,Jim Bridenstine,"/> <meta name="generator" content="Drupal 7 (http://drupal.org)"/> <link rel="canonical" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191114223317/https://thehill.com/opinion/technology/392611-nasas-unnecessary-504-million-lunar-orbit-project-doesnt-help-us-get-back"/> <link rel="shortlink" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191114223317/https://thehill.com/node/392611"/> <meta property="fb:admins" content="581787871"/> <meta property="fb:admins" content="732535504"/> <meta property="fb:admins" content="100000299130732"/> <meta property="fb:admins" content="1531470032"/> <meta property="fb:app_id" content="566538590082898"/> <meta property="fb:pages" content="7533944086,2064147433830888"/> <meta property="og:site_name" content="TheHill"/> <meta property="og:type" content="article"/> <meta property="og:title" content="NASA’s unnecessary $504 million lunar orbit project doesn’t help us get back to the Moon"/> <meta property="og:url" content="https://web.archive.org/web/20191114223317/https://thehill.com/opinion/technology/392611-nasas-unnecessary-504-million-lunar-orbit-project-doesnt-help-us-get-back"/> <meta property="og:description" content="The lunar orbiting space station is not necessary for men to go to the moon and back."/> <meta property="og:updated_time" content="2018-06-16T12:30:01-04:00"/> <meta property="og:image" content="https://web.archive.org/web/20191114223317im_/https://thehill.com/sites/default/files/moon_nasa.jpg"/> <meta name="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image"/> <meta name="twitter:title" content="NASA’s unnecessary $504 million lunar orbit project doesn’t help us"/> <meta name="twitter:url" content="https://web.archive.org/web/20191114223317im_/https://thehill.com/opinion/technology/392611-nasas-unnecessary-504-million-lunar-orbit-project-doesnt-help-us-get-back"/> <meta name="twitter:description" content="The lunar orbiting space station is not necessary for men to go to the moon and back."/> <meta property="article:published_time" content="2018-06-16T12:30:06-04:00"/> <meta property="article:modified_time" content="2018-06-16T12:30:01-04:00"/> <meta name="dcterms.title" content="NASA’s unnecessary $504 million lunar orbit project doesn’t help us get back to the Moon"/> <meta name="dcterms.creator" content="Christine Ayala"/> <meta name="dcterms.description" content="The lunar orbiting space station is not necessary for men to go to the moon and back."/> <meta name="dcterms.date" content="2018-06-16T12:30-04:00"/> <meta name="dcterms.type" content="Text"/> <meta name="dcterms.format" content="text/html"/> <meta name="dcterms.identifier" content="https://thehill.com/opinion/technology/392611-nasas-unnecessary-504-million-lunar-orbit-project-doesnt-help-us-get-back"/> <script language="javascript" type="text/javascript" src="/web/20191114223317js_/https://thehill.com/sites/all/modules/thehill/thehill_header_bidding/js/prebid_2_32_0.js" async></script><script language="javascript" type="text/javascript" src="//web.archive.org/web/20191114223317js_/https://www.googletagservices.com/tag/js/gpt.js" async></script> <link rel="apple-touch-icon" sizes="512x512" href="/web/20191114223317im_/https://thehill.com/apple-touch-icon-512X512.png"> <link rel="apple-touch-icon" sizes="1024x1024" href="/web/20191114223317im_/https://thehill.com/apple-touch-icon-1024X1024.png"> <link rel="apple-touch-icon" sizes="152x152" href="/web/20191114223317im_/https://thehill.com/apple-touch-icon-152X152.png"> <link rel="apple-touch-icon" sizes="167x167" href="/web/20191114223317im_/https://thehill.com/apple-touch-icon-167X167.png"> <link rel="apple-touch-icon" sizes="1024x1024" href="/web/20191114223317im_/https://thehill.com/apple-touch-icon-1024X1024.png"> <link rel="apple-touch-icon" sizes="120x120" href="/web/20191114223317im_/https://thehill.com/apple-touch-icon-120X120.png"> <link rel="apple-touch-icon" sizes="180x180" href="/web/20191114223317im_/https://thehill.com/apple-touch-icon-180X180.png"> <link rel="apple-touch-icon" href="/web/20191114223317im_/https://thehill.com/apple-touch-icon.png"> <title>NASA’s unnecessary $504 million lunar orbit project doesn’t help us get back to the Moon | TheHill</title> <link type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" href="//web.archive.org/web/20191114223317cs_/https://thehill.com/sites/default/files/css/css_kShW4RPmRstZ3SpIC-ZvVGNFVAi0WEMuCnI0ZkYIaFw.css" media="all"/> <link type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" href="//web.archive.org/web/20191114223317cs_/https://thehill.com/sites/default/files/css/css_GmgcKrlcJ_1AYWSRZ5rjft4ov8QEmSHehJZEiWJRn0I.css" media="all"/> <link type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" href="//web.archive.org/web/20191114223317cs_/https://thehill.com/sites/default/files/css/css_se2WJ1rEiCe2g4ST9LNxulYjndHtkkH0k3Iu8roJvXU.css" media="all"/> <link type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" href="//web.archive.org/web/20191114223317cs_/https://thehill.com/sites/default/files/css/css_sE3npm6Ry1rVKed29H3z13xuQSBvcGEtd4ArFQ9ye1U.css" media="all"/> <script type="text/javascript"> if (!iPad) { var link = document.createElement('link'); link.rel = 'stylesheet'; link.type = 'text/css'; link.href = '/sites/all/themes/thehill/css/mobile.css'; document.getElementsByTagName('head')[0].appendChild(link); } </script>  <script class="kxint" data-namespace="thehill" type="text/javascript"> window.Krux||((Krux=function(){Krux.q.push(arguments);}).q=[]); (function(){ function retrieve(n){ var k= 'kx'+'thehill_'+n, ls=(function(){ try { return window.localStorage; } catch(e) { return null; } })(); if (ls) { return ls[k] || ''; } else if (navigator.cookieEnabled) { var m = document.cookie.match(k+'=([^;]*)'); return (m && unescape(m[1])) || ''; } else { return ''; } } Krux.user = retrieve('user'); Krux.segments = retrieve('segs') ? retrieve('segs').split(',') : []; })(); </script> <script src="https://web.archive.org/web/20191114223317js_/https://z.moatads.com/newscomprebidheader135900089283/yi.js"></script> <script src="//web.archive.org/web/20191114223317js_/https://thehill.com/sites/default/files/js/js_UsJCaTKadQHcBxW3InvotRkwEO94ieAIN0hsSq5sbL4.js"></script> <script> var PREBID_TIMEOUT = 2000; var adUnits = [ { code: 'dfp-ad-rightrail_top', mediaTypes: { banner: { sizes: [[160, 600], [300, 250], [300, 600], [300, 1050]] } }, bids: [{ bidder: 'openx', params: { unit: '538678508', delDomain: 'thehill-d.openx.net' } },{ bidder: 'ix', params: { siteId: '318000', size: [300,250] } },{ bidder: 'ix', params: { siteId: '318000', size: [160,600] } },{ bidder: 'ix', params: { siteId: '318000', size: [300,600] } },{ bidder: 'ix', params: { siteId: '318000', size: [300,1050] } },{ bidder: 'appnexus', params: { placementId: '9114213' } },{ bidder: 'rubicon', params: { accountId: '15654', siteId: '102722', zoneId: '482104' } }] },{ code: 'dfp-ad-leaderboard', mediaTypes: { banner: { sizes: [[728, 90], [970, 90], [970, 250], [970, 415], [970, 500], [1237, 500]] } }, bids: [{ bidder: 'openx', params: { unit: '538678500', delDomain: 'thehill-d.openx.net' } },{ bidder: 'ix', params: { siteId: '317997', size: [728,90] } },{ bidder: 'ix', params: { siteId: '317997', size: [970,90] } },{ bidder: 'ix', params: { siteId: '317997', size: [970,250] } },{ bidder: 'ix', params: { siteId: '317997', size: [970,415] } },{ bidder: 'ix', params: { siteId: '317997', size: [970,500] } },{ bidder: 'ix', params: { siteId: '317997', size: [1237,500] } },{ bidder: 'appnexus', params: { placementId: '9114153' } },{ bidder: 'rubicon', params: { accountId: '15654', siteId: '102722', zoneId: '482104' } }] },{ code: 'dfp-ad-rightrail_bottom', mediaTypes: { banner: { sizes: [[300, 250], [300, 600], [300, 1050]] } }, bids: [{ bidder: 'openx', params: { unit: '538678507', delDomain: 'thehill-d.openx.net' } },{ bidder: 'ix', params: { siteId: '317999', size: [300,250] } },{ bidder: 'ix', params: { siteId: '317999', size: [300,600] } },{ bidder: 'ix', params: { siteId: '317999', size: [300,1050] } },{ bidder: 'appnexus', params: { placementId: '9114211' } },{ bidder: 'rubicon', params: { accountId: '15654', siteId: '102722', zoneId: '484056' } }] },{ code: 'dfp-ad-mosad_1', mediaTypes: { banner: { sizes: [[300, 250]] } }, bids: [{ bidder: 'openx', params: { unit: '538678494', delDomain: 'thehill-d.openx.net' } },{ bidder: 'ix', params: { siteId: '317998', size: [300,250] } },{ bidder: 'appnexus', params: { placementId: '9114211' } },{ bidder: 'rubicon', params: { accountId: '15654', siteId: '102722', zoneId: '484056' } }] },{ code: 'dfp-ad-clone_of_mosad_1', mediaTypes: { banner: { sizes: [[300, 250]] } }, bids: [{ bidder: 'openx', params: { unit: '538678493', delDomain: 'thehill-d.openx.net' } },{ bidder: 'ix', params: { siteId: '317802', size: [300,250] } },{ bidder: 'appnexus', params: { placementId: '9114211' } },{ bidder: 'rubicon', params: { accountId: '15654', siteId: '102722', zoneId: '484056' } }] } ]; var pbjs = pbjs || {}; pbjs.que = pbjs.que || []; pbjs.que.push(function() { pbjs.setConfig({ enableSendAllBids: true }); });</script> <script> var googletag = googletag || {}; googletag.cmd = googletag.cmd || []; googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.pubads().disableInitialLoad(); }); </script> <script> pbjs.que.push(function() { pbjs.addAdUnits(adUnits); pbjs.bidderSettings = { standard: { alwaysUseBid: false, adserverTargeting: [{ key: "hb_bidder", val: function(bidResponse) { return bidResponse.bidderCode; } }, { key: "hb_adid", val: function(bidResponse) { return bidResponse.adId; } }, { key: "hb_cache_id", val: function(bidResponse) { return bidResponse.videoCacheKey; } }, { key: "hb_pb", val: function(bidResponse) { var cpm = bidResponse.cpm; if (cpm < 3.00) { return (Math.floor(cpm * 100) / 100).toFixed(2); } else if (cpm < 5.00) { return (Math.floor(cpm * 20) / 20).toFixed(2); } else if (cpm < 10.00) { return (Math.floor(cpm * 20) / 20).toFixed(2); } else if (cpm < 25.00) { return (Math.floor(cpm * 2) / 2).toFixed(2); } else { return '25.00'; } } }] }, openx: { alwaysUseBid: true, adserverTargeting: [{ key: "oxb", val: function(bidResponse) { var bid; if (bidResponse.cpm < 20) { //Penny Bid Buckets bid = ((Math.floor(bidResponse.cpm * 100) / 100) * 100).toFixed(0); } else { //Twenty dollar bucket bid = "2000"; } //Returns creativeSize_bidBucket as the value return bidResponse.width + "x" + bidResponse.height + "_" + bid; } }] } }; pbjs.requestBids({ bidsBackHandler: sendAdserverRequest }); }); function sendAdserverRequest() { if (pbjs.adserverRequestSent) return; pbjs.adserverRequestSent = true; var displayAdUnitCodes = []; adUnits.forEach(function(adUnit) { displayAdUnitCodes.push(adUnit.code); }); googletag.cmd.push(function() { pbjs.que.push(function() { pbjs.setTargetingForGPTAsync(displayAdUnitCodes); googletag.pubads().refresh(); }); }); } setTimeout(function() { sendAdserverRequest(); }, PREBID_TIMEOUT); </script> <script> googletag.slots = googletag.slots || {};</script> <script src="//web.archive.org/web/20191114223317js_/https://thehill.com/sites/default/files/js/js_s3L_uC35AiN5EGYY533su-jccnLRp2aKpOnjgPLbo34.js"></script> <script src="//web.archive.org/web/20191114223317js_/https://thehill.com/sites/default/files/js/js_gbyB-8624b04gFWZoHErKXFxSQxvWm7c4JcfaGYxlCo.js"></script> <script> googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.slots["rightrail_top"] = googletag.defineSlot("1107919/RightRail_top_300x250_ROS_asynch", [[160, 600], [300, 250], [300, 600], [300, 1050]], "dfp-ad-rightrail_top") .addService(googletag.pubads()) .setTargeting("MoatSlotId", "rightrail_top"); }); </script> <script> googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.slots["rightrail_bottom"] = googletag.defineSlot("1107919/RightRail_bottom_300x250_ROS_asynch", [[300, 250], [300, 600], [300, 1050]], "dfp-ad-rightrail_bottom") .addService(googletag.pubads()) .setTargeting("MoatSlotId", "rightrail_bottom"); }); </script> <script> googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.slots["leaderboard"] = googletag.defineSlot("1107919/Leaderboard_728x90_ROS_asynch", [[728, 90], [970, 90], [970, 250], [970, 415], [970, 500], [1237, 500]], "dfp-ad-leaderboard") .addService(googletag.pubads()) .setTargeting("MoatSlotId", "dfp-ad-leaderboard"); }); </script> <script> googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.slots["mosad_1"] = googletag.defineSlot("1107919/Content_300x250_ROS_asynch", [300, 250], "dfp-ad-mosad_1") .addService(googletag.pubads()) .setTargeting("MoatSlotId", "mosad_1"); }); </script> <script> googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.slots["new_1x1_asynch"] = googletag.defineSlot("1107919/1x1_asynch", [1, 1], "dfp-ad-new_1x1_asynch") .addService(googletag.pubads()); }); </script> <script> googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.slots["1x1_oop"] = googletag.defineSlot("1107919/1x1_asynch", [1, 1], "dfp-ad-1x1_oop") .addService(googletag.pubads()); googletag.defineOutOfPageSlot("1107919/1x1_asynch", "dfp-ad-1x1_oop-oop") .addService(googletag.pubads()); }); </script> <script> googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.pubads().setTargeting("ksg", Krux.segments); googletag.pubads().setTargeting("kuid", Krux.user); var referrer = ""; try{referrer = document.referrer; if(document.referrer.length > 0) referrer = new URL(document.referrer).hostname; } catch(e) {console.log(e)} googletag.pubads().setTargeting("referrer", referrer); googletag.pubads().enableSingleRequest(); googletag.pubads().collapseEmptyDivs(); googletag.pubads().setTargeting("Article", "392611"); googletag.pubads().setTargeting("Category", "Technology"); googletag.pubads().setTargeting("Section", "Opinion"); googletag.pubads().setTargeting("Tarmeta", ["Mark Whittington","Moon","NASA","Space exploration","Jim Bridenstine","nasas","unnecessary","504","million","lunar","orbit","project","doesnt","help","us","get","back"]); googletag.pubads().setTargeting("Video", "False"); googletag.enableServices(); }); </script> <script src="//web.archive.org/web/20191114223317js_/https://thehill.com/sites/default/files/js/js_4zCT9TF1zdyFo5cHWewfDVwD1ET5wj0vY8l6UcKmAsI.js"></script> <script>(function(i,s,o,g,r,a,m){i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"]=r;i[r]=i[r]||function(){(i[r].q=i[r].q||[]).push(arguments)},i[r].l=1*new Date();a=s.createElement(o),m=s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];a.async=1;a.src=g;m.parentNode.insertBefore(a,m)})(window,document,"script","//web.archive.org/web/20191114223317/https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js","ga");ga("create", "UA-10188146-1", {"cookieDomain":"auto"});ga("set", "dimension1", "Mark Whittington, opinion contributor");ga("send", "pageview");</script> <script src="//web.archive.org/web/20191114223317js_/https://thehill.com/sites/default/files/js/js_qAzKhfDd5UO2hRGaJj-b_KR1IoOCyHOfj2IrZVLbC1Y.js"></script> <script src="//web.archive.org/web/20191114223317js_/https://thehill.com/sites/default/files/js/js_b0pKu1l4IP6y2AnZ2jqaPSFiRL_HbuZP2qHSPxCHTo0.js"></script> <script nonce="iXohng2hoh">jQuery.extend(Drupal.settings, {"basePath":"\/","pathPrefix":"","ajaxPageState":{"theme":"thehill","theme_token":"PG8vCZnsPpwhaf4_Eqp3LLtlzAu1h5jxgxA6DPuxWZk","js":{"sites\/all\/modules\/jquery_update\/replace\/jquery\/1.7\/jquery.min.js":1,"misc\/jquery-extend-3.4.0.js":1,"misc\/jquery.once.js":1,"misc\/drupal.js":1,"sites\/all\/modules\/jquery_update\/replace\/ui\/ui\/minified\/jquery.ui.core.min.js":1,"sites\/all\/modules\/jquery_update\/replace\/ui\/ui\/minified\/jquery.ui.widget.min.js":1,"sites\/all\/modules\/jquery_update\/replace\/ui\/ui\/minified\/jquery.ui.effect.min.js":1,"sites\/all\/modules\/jquery_update\/replace\/ui\/external\/jquery.cookie.js":1,"sites\/all\/modules\/jquery_update\/replace\/ui\/ui\/minified\/jquery.ui.accordion.min.js":1,"sites\/all\/modules\/jquery_update\/replace\/ui\/ui\/minified\/jquery.ui.effect-highlight.min.js":1,"0":1,"1":1,"2":1,"3":1,"4":1,"5":1,"sites\/all\/libraries\/colorbox\/jquery.colorbox-min.js":1,"sites\/all\/modules\/colorbox\/js\/colorbox.js":1,"sites\/all\/modules\/colorbox\/styles\/default\/colorbox_style.js":1,"sites\/all\/modules\/thehill\/thehill_blocks\/js\/thehill_rba.js":1,"6":1,"sites\/all\/modules\/thehill\/thehill_misc\/js\/person-links.js":1,"sites\/all\/modules\/thehill\/thehill_blocks\/js\/carousel\/jquery.caroufredsel.js":1,"sites\/all\/modules\/thehill\/thehill_blocks\/js\/carousel\/helper-plugins\/jquery.ba-throttle-debounce.min.js":1,"sites\/all\/modules\/thehill\/thehill_blocks\/js\/carousel\/helper-plugins\/jquery.mousewheel.min.js":1,"sites\/all\/modules\/thehill\/thehill_blocks\/js\/carousel\/helper-plugins\/jquery.touchSwipe.min.js":1,"sites\/all\/modules\/thehill\/thehill_blocks\/js\/carousel\/helper-plugins\/jquery.transit.min.js":1,"sites\/all\/modules\/thehill\/thehill_blocks\/js\/carousel\/thehill_carousel.js":1,"misc\/jquery.cookie.js":1,"sites\/all\/modules\/mostpopular\/js\/fade.js":1,"sites\/all\/modules\/mostpopular\/js\/mostpopular.js":1,"sites\/all\/modules\/disqus\/disqus.js":1,"sites\/all\/modules\/ajaxblocks\/ajaxblocks.js":1,"sites\/all\/modules\/hide_submit\/js\/hide_submit.js":1,"sites\/all\/themes\/thehill\/js\/jquery.sticky-kit.min.js":1,"sites\/all\/themes\/thehill\/js\/jquery.visible.min.js":1,"sites\/all\/themes\/thehill\/js\/script.js":1,"sites\/all\/themes\/thehill\/js\/dfp.gpt.logger.override.js":1,"sites\/all\/themes\/thehill\/js\/overriden\/mostpopular.js":1,"sites\/all\/themes\/thehill\/js\/opa.js":1,"sites\/all\/themes\/thehill\/js\/th_jwplayer.js":1,"7":1,"8":1,"9":1,"10":1,"11":1,"12":1,"13":1,"14":1,"15":1,"16":1,"17":1,"18":1,"19":1,"20":1,"21":1,"22":1},"css":{"modules\/system\/system.base.css":1,"modules\/system\/system.menus.css":1,"modules\/system\/system.messages.css":1,"modules\/system\/system.theme.css":1,"sites\/all\/modules\/date\/date_api\/date.css":1,"sites\/all\/modules\/date\/date_popup\/themes\/datepicker.1.7.css":1,"modules\/field\/theme\/field.css":1,"sites\/all\/modules\/menu_attach_block\/menu_attach_block.css":1,"modules\/node\/node.css":1,"modules\/search\/search.css":1,"modules\/user\/user.css":1,"sites\/all\/modules\/views\/css\/views.css":1,"sites\/all\/modules\/media\/modules\/media_wysiwyg\/css\/media_wysiwyg.base.css":1,"sites\/all\/modules\/chartbeat\/chartbeat.css":1,"sites\/all\/modules\/colorbox\/styles\/default\/colorbox_style.css":1,"sites\/all\/modules\/ctools\/css\/ctools.css":1,"sites\/all\/modules\/thehill\/thehill_misc\/css\/person-links.css":1,"sites\/all\/modules\/mostpopular\/css\/mostpopular-basic.css":1,"sites\/all\/modules\/mostpopular\/css\/mostpopular-full.css":1,"sites\/all\/modules\/hide_submit\/css\/hide_submit.css":1,"sites\/all\/themes\/thehill\/system.menus.css":1,"sites\/all\/themes\/thehill\/css\/normalize.css":1,"sites\/all\/themes\/thehill\/css\/wireframes.css":1,"sites\/all\/themes\/thehill\/css\/layouts\/responsive-sidebars.css":1,"sites\/all\/themes\/thehill\/css\/page-backgrounds.css":1,"sites\/all\/themes\/thehill\/css\/tabs.css":1,"sites\/all\/themes\/thehill\/css\/pages.css":1,"sites\/all\/themes\/thehill\/css\/blocks.css":1,"sites\/all\/themes\/thehill\/css\/navigation.css":1,"sites\/all\/themes\/thehill\/css\/views-styles.css":1,"sites\/all\/themes\/thehill\/css\/nodes.css":1,"sites\/all\/themes\/thehill\/css\/comments.css":1,"sites\/all\/themes\/thehill\/css\/forms.css":1,"sites\/all\/themes\/thehill\/css\/fields.css":1,"sites\/all\/themes\/thehill\/css\/print.css":1,"sites\/all\/themes\/thehill\/css\/articles-teaser.css":1,"sites\/all\/themes\/thehill\/css\/font-awesome.min.css":1,"sites\/all\/themes\/thehill\/css\/opa.css":1,"sites\/all\/themes\/thehill\/css\/opa-fix.css":1,"sites\/all\/themes\/thehill\/css\/hilltv.css":1,"sites\/all\/themes\/thehill\/css\/th_jwplayer.css":1}},"chartbeat":{"uid":3100,"domain":"thehill.com","useCanonical":true,"noCookies":false},"colorbox":{"opacity":"0.85","current":"{current} of {total}","previous":"\u00ab Prev","next":"Next \u00bb","close":"Close","maxWidth":"98%","maxHeight":"98%","fixed":true,"mobiledetect":true,"mobiledevicewidth":"480px"},"ad_timeout":"25000","hide_submit":{"hide_submit_status":true,"hide_submit_method":"disable","hide_submit_css":"hide-submit-disable","hide_submit_abtext":"","hide_submit_atext":"","hide_submit_hide_css":"hide-submit-processing","hide_submit_hide_text":"Processing...","hide_submit_indicator_style":"expand-left","hide_submit_spinner_color":"#000","hide_submit_spinner_lines":12,"hide_submit_hide_fx":0,"hide_submit_reset_time":0},"rba":{"start":1431367200000,"end":1431378900000,"expiration":"43200","ad_tag":"road_block_ad","timer":15000,"url":"\/rba_page"},"urlIsAjaxTrusted":{"\/opinion\/technology\/392611-nasas-unnecessary-504-million-lunar-orbit-project-doesnt-help-us-get-back":true,"\/search\/site":true},"thehill_mostpopular":{"sid":"1","iid":"1","tag":""},"thehill_carousel":{"carousels":{"#thehill-mostpopular-block .mostpopular--content ul":{"auto":false,"infinite":false,"circular":true,"next":"#most_popular_next","mousewheel":false,"swipe":{"onMouse":true,"onTouch":true},"items":6,"mostpopular":true,"direction":"up","scroll":{"items":6,"duration":1000,"timeoutDuration":2000}}}},"mostpopular":{"url":"\/mostpopular\/ajax"},"disqus":{"domain":"thehill-v4","url":"https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20191114223317\/https:\/\/thehill.com\/opinion\/technology\/392611-nasas-unnecessary-504-million-lunar-orbit-project-doesnt-help-us-get-back","title":"NASA\u2019s unnecessary $504 million lunar orbit project doesn\u2019t help us get back to the Moon","identifier":"node\/392611","developer":1,"language":"en","sso":{"name":"TheHill","url":"\/user\/login?destination=disqus\/closewindow","logout":"\/user\/logout?destination=node\/392611","width":800,"height":600,"button":"https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20191114223317\/https:\/\/thehill.com\/sites\/all\/themes\/thehill\/images\/print_logo.png","icon":"https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20191114223317\/https:\/\/thehill.com\/favicon.ico"},"api_key":"MU2vV9R8hBF3W9kH0Zo2HKkiLqQY5ahOlvro6pPtNeOnnI6dQLfkIjd0OgRl9W6x","remote_auth_s3":"W10= 252ec57f5a2be45897d28442672766bd40875b21 1573770797"},"ajaxblocks":"blocks=mostpopular-1\/views-articles-articles_just_in\u0026path=node"});</script> <script type="text/javascript" src="//web.archive.org/web/20191114223317js_/https://s7.addthis.com/js/300/addthis_widget.js#pubid=ra-4e8f5d7e1bc8befe"></script> <meta http-equiv="refresh" content="2700"/><meta name="twitter:widgets:csp" content="on">  <meta name="apple-itunes-app" content="app-id=396640962">   <script type="text/javascript" src="//web.archive.org/web/20191114223317js_/https://s.ntv.io/serve/load.js" async></script>     <script>window['moatYieldReady']=function(){return window.moatPrebidApi.setMoatTargetingForAllSlots()};</script>   <script class="kxct" data-id="sf90wt710" data-timing="async" data-version="3.0" type="text/javascript"> window.Krux||((Krux=function(){Krux.q.push(arguments)}).q=[]); (function() { var k=document.createElement('script');k.type='text/javascript';k.async=true; k.src=(location.protocol==='https:'?'https:':'http:')+'//web.archive.org/web/20191114223317/https://cdn.krxd.net/controltag/sf90wt710.js'; var s=document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0];s.parentNode.insertBefore(k,s); } ()); </script> </head> <body class="html not-front not-logged-in one-sidebar sidebar-second page-node page-node- page-node-392611 node-type-article featured-other--articles section-opinion smaller-size"> <div id="skip-link"> <a href="#main-content" class="element-invisible element-focusable">Skip to main content</a> </div> <div class="region region-before-header"> <div id="block-system-main-menu" class="block block-system block-menu first last odd" role="navigation"> <div class="expand-menu-header"> <span class="expand-menu-close"></span> <a href="/web/20191114223317/https://thehill.com/"></a> </div> <ul class="menu"><li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf first leaf depth-1"><a href="/web/20191114223317/https://thehill.com/signup" class="menu__link menu__link">sign up for newsletters</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf leaf depth-1"><a href="/web/20191114223317/https://thehill.com/" class="menu__link menu__link">Home</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-expanded menu__item is-expanded expanded depth-1"><a href="/web/20191114223317/https://thehill.com/" class="menu__link menu__link">News</a><ul class="menu"><li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf first leaf depth-2"><a href="/web/20191114223317/https://thehill.com/homenews/senate" title="Senate" name="Senate" class="menu__link menu__link">Senate</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf leaf depth-2"><a href="/web/20191114223317/https://thehill.com/homenews/house" class="menu__link menu__link">House</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf leaf depth-2"><a href="/web/20191114223317/https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign" class="menu__link menu__link">Campaign</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf leaf depth-2"><a href="/web/20191114223317/https://thehill.com/homenews/administration" class="menu__link menu__link">Administration</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf leaf depth-2"><a href="/web/20191114223317/https://thehill.com/business-a-lobbying" class="menu__link menu__link">Business</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf leaf depth-2"><a href="/web/20191114223317/https://thehill.com/regulation" class="menu__link menu__link">Regulation</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf leaf depth-2"><a href="/web/20191114223317/https://thehill.com/homenews/media" class="menu__link menu__link">Media</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf leaf depth-2"><a href="/web/20191114223317/https://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room" class="menu__link menu__link">Briefing Room</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf leaf depth-2"><a href="/web/20191114223317/https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch" class="menu__link menu__link">State Watch</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf leaf depth-2"><a href="/web/20191114223317/https://thehill.com/latino" class="menu__link menu__link">Latino</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf leaf depth-2"><a href="/web/20191114223317/https://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/polls" class="menu__link menu__link">Polls</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf leaf depth-2"><a href="/web/20191114223317/https://thehill.com/homenews/1230-report" class="menu__link menu__link">12:30 Report</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf leaf depth-2"><a href="/web/20191114223317/https://thehill.com/homenews/politics-101" class="menu__link menu__link">Politics 101</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf leaf depth-2"><a href="/web/20191114223317/https://thehill.com/blogs/floor-action" class="menu__link menu__link">Floor Action</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf leaf depth-2"><a href="/web/20191114223317/https://thehill.com/blogs/in-the-know" class="menu__link menu__link">In The Know</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf last leaf depth-2"><a href="/web/20191114223317/https://thehill.com/homenews/sunday-talk-shows" class="menu__link menu__link">Sunday Talk Shows</a></li> </ul></li> <li class="menu__item is-expanded menu__item is-expanded expanded depth-1"><a href="/web/20191114223317/https://thehill.com/policy" class="menu__link menu__link">Policy</a><ul class="menu"><li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf first leaf depth-2"><a href="/web/20191114223317/https://thehill.com/policy/defense" class="menu__link menu__link">Defense</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf leaf depth-2"><a href="/web/20191114223317/https://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment" class="menu__link menu__link">Energy & Environment</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf leaf depth-2"><a href="/web/20191114223317/https://thehill.com/policy/finance" class="menu__link menu__link">Finance</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf leaf depth-2"><a href="/web/20191114223317/https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare" class="menu__link menu__link">Healthcare</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf leaf depth-2"><a href="/web/20191114223317/https://thehill.com/policy/technology" class="menu__link menu__link">Technology</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf leaf depth-2"><a href="/web/20191114223317/https://thehill.com/policy/transportation" class="menu__link menu__link">Transportation</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf leaf depth-2"><a href="/web/20191114223317/https://thehill.com/policy/international" class="menu__link menu__link">International</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf leaf depth-2"><a href="/web/20191114223317/https://thehill.com/policy/cybersecurity" class="menu__link menu__link">Cybersecurity</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf last leaf depth-2"><a href="/web/20191114223317/https://thehill.com/policy/national-security" class="menu__link menu__link">National Security</a></li> </ul></li> <li class="menu__item is-expanded menu__item is-expanded expanded depth-1"><a href="/web/20191114223317/https://thehill.com/regulation" class="menu__link menu__link">Regulation</a><ul class="menu"><li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf first leaf depth-2"><a href="/web/20191114223317/https://thehill.com/regulation/defense" class="menu__link menu__link">Defense</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf leaf depth-2"><a href="/web/20191114223317/https://thehill.com/regulation/energy-environment" class="menu__link menu__link">Energy & Environment</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf leaf depth-2"><a href="/web/20191114223317/https://thehill.com/regulation/finance" class="menu__link menu__link">Finance</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf leaf depth-2"><a href="/web/20191114223317/https://thehill.com/regulation/healthcare" class="menu__link menu__link">Healthcare</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf leaf depth-2"><a href="/web/20191114223317/https://thehill.com/regulation/technology" class="menu__link menu__link">Technology</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf leaf depth-2"><a href="/web/20191114223317/https://thehill.com/regulation/transportation" class="menu__link menu__link">Transportation</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf leaf depth-2"><a href="/web/20191114223317/https://thehill.com/regulation/international" class="menu__link menu__link">International</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf leaf depth-2"><a href="/web/20191114223317/https://thehill.com/regulation/cybersecurity" class="menu__link menu__link">Cybersecurity</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf last leaf depth-2"><a href="/web/20191114223317/https://thehill.com/regulation/national-security" class="menu__link menu__link">National Security</a></li> </ul></li> <li class="menu__item is-active-trail is-expanded menu__item is-active-trail is-expanded expanded active-trail depth-1"><a href="/web/20191114223317/https://thehill.com/opinion" class="menu__link is-active-trail menu__link is-active-trail active-trail">Opinion</a><ul class="menu"><li class="menu__item is-active-trail is-leaf menu__item is-active-trail is-leaf first leaf active-trail depth-2"><a href="/web/20191114223317/https://thehill.com/opinion" class="menu__link is-active-trail menu__link is-active-trail active-trail">Contributors</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf leaf depth-2"><a href="/web/20191114223317/https://thehill.com/opinion/columnists" class="menu__link menu__link">Columnists</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf leaf depth-2"><a href="/web/20191114223317/https://thehill.com/contributor-application-form" class="menu__link menu__link">Become a contributor</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf last leaf depth-2"><a href="/web/20191114223317/https://thehill.com/blogs/congress-blog" class="menu__link menu__link">Congress Blog</a></li> </ul></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf leaf depth-1"><a href="/web/20191114223317/https://thehill.com/hilltv" class="menu__link menu__link">Hill.TV</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-expanded menu__item is-expanded expanded depth-1 left"><a href="/web/20191114223317/https://thehill.com/video" class="menu__link menu__link left">Video</a><ul class="menu"><li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf first leaf depth-2"><a href="/web/20191114223317/https://thehill.com/video/campaign" class="menu__link menu__link">Campaign</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf leaf depth-2"><a href="/web/20191114223317/https://thehill.com/video/defense" class="menu__link menu__link">Defense</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf leaf depth-2"><a href="/web/20191114223317/https://thehill.com/video/energy-environment" class="menu__link menu__link">Energy & Environment</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf leaf depth-2"><a href="/web/20191114223317/https://thehill.com/video/finance" class="menu__link menu__link">Finance</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf leaf depth-2"><a href="/web/20191114223317/https://thehill.com/video/healthcare" class="menu__link menu__link">Healthcare</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf leaf depth-2"><a href="/web/20191114223317/https://thehill.com/video/technology" class="menu__link menu__link">Technology</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf leaf depth-2"><a href="/web/20191114223317/https://thehill.com/video/transportation" class="menu__link menu__link">Transportation</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf leaf depth-2"><a href="/web/20191114223317/https://thehill.com/video/international" class="menu__link menu__link">International</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf leaf depth-2"><a href="/web/20191114223317/https://thehill.com/video/cybersecurity" class="menu__link menu__link">Cybersecurity</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf leaf depth-2"><a href="/web/20191114223317/https://thehill.com/video/national-security" class="menu__link menu__link">National Security</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf leaf depth-2"><a href="/web/20191114223317/https://thehill.com/video/sunday-shows" class="menu__link menu__link">Sunday Shows</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf leaf depth-2"><a href="/web/20191114223317/https://thehill.com/video/events" class="menu__link menu__link">Events</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf last leaf depth-2"><a href="/web/20191114223317/https://thehill.com/video/lawmaker-interviews" class="menu__link menu__link">Lawmaker Interviews</a></li> </ul></li> <li class="menu__item is-expanded menu__item is-expanded expanded depth-1"><a href="/web/20191114223317/https://thehill.com/podcasts" class="menu__link menu__link">Podcasts</a><ul class="menu"><li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf first leaf depth-2"><a href="/web/20191114223317/https://thehill.com/podcasts/hillcast" class="menu__link menu__link">HillCast</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf last leaf depth-2"><a href="/web/20191114223317/https://thehill.com/podcasts/history-cast" class="menu__link menu__link">HistoryCast</a></li> </ul></li> <li class="menu__item is-expanded menu__item is-expanded expanded depth-1 left single"><a href="/web/20191114223317/https://thehill.com/events" class="menu__link menu__link single left">Events</a><ul class="menu"><li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf first leaf depth-2"><a href="/web/20191114223317/https://thehill.com/events" class="menu__link menu__link">Upcoming Events</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf leaf depth-2"><a href="/web/20191114223317/https://thehill.com/events/past" class="menu__link menu__link">Past Events</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf last leaf depth-2"><a href="/web/20191114223317/https://thehill.com/events/about" class="menu__link menu__link">About</a></li> </ul></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf leaf depth-1"><a href="/web/20191114223317/https://thehill.com/people" class="menu__link menu__link">People</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf last leaf depth-1"><a href="/web/20191114223317/https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign" class="menu__link menu__link">Campaign</a></li> </ul> <div id="expand-menu-social-share"> <div class="expand-menu-headline">Follow Us</div> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191114223317/http://www.facebook.com/TheHill" class="social-share-facebook" target="_blank">Facebook</a> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191114223317/https://twitter.com/intent/follow?screen_name=thehill" class="social-share-twitter-follow" target="_blank">Twitter</a> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191114223317/https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-hill" class="social-share-linkedin" target="_blank">LinkedIn</a>  </div> <div id="expand-menu-footer"> <div class="expand-menu-headline"><a href="/web/20191114223317/https://thehill.com/">TheHill.com</a></div> © 1996-2019 News Communication <ul class="links"><li class="menu-3055 first"><a href="/web/20191114223317/https://thehill.com/terms-and-conditions">Terms & Conditions</a></li> <li class="menu-3054 last"><a href="/web/20191114223317/https://thehill.com/privacy-policy">Privacy Policy</a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> <header id="header" role="banner"> <div> <div class="header_blocks"> </div> <div class="clear"></div> <div id="navigation"> <nav id="main-menu" role="navigation"> <div class="expanded-menu"></div> <div class="region region-navigation"> <div id="block-menu-menu-top-menu" class="block block-menu first last odd" role="navigation"> <h2 class="block__title block-title">Top menu</h2> <div class="menu-wrapper"><ul class="menu"><li class="menu__item is-expanded menu__item is-expanded first expanded depth-1"><a href="/web/20191114223317/https://thehill.com/" class="menu__link menu__link">News</a><div class="menu-wrapper"><ul class="menu"><li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf first leaf depth-2"><a href="/web/20191114223317/https://thehill.com/homenews/senate" class="menu__link menu__link">Senate</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf leaf depth-2"><a href="/web/20191114223317/https://thehill.com/homenews/house" class="menu__link menu__link">House</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf leaf depth-2"><a href="/web/20191114223317/https://thehill.com/homenews/administration" class="menu__link menu__link">Administration</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf leaf depth-2"><a href="/web/20191114223317/https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign" class="menu__link menu__link">Campaign</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf leaf depth-2"><a href="/web/20191114223317/https://thehill.com/business-a-lobbying" class="menu__link menu__link">Business</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf leaf depth-2"><a href="/web/20191114223317/https://thehill.com/regulation" class="menu__link menu__link">Regulation</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf leaf depth-2"><a href="/web/20191114223317/https://thehill.com/homenews/media" class="menu__link menu__link">Media</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf leaf depth-2"><a href="/web/20191114223317/https://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room" class="menu__link menu__link">Briefing Room</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf leaf depth-2"><a href="/web/20191114223317/https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch" class="menu__link menu__link">State Watch</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf leaf depth-2"><a href="/web/20191114223317/https://thehill.com/latino" class="menu__link menu__link">Latino</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf leaf depth-2"><a href="/web/20191114223317/https://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/polls" class="menu__link menu__link">Polls</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf leaf depth-2"><a href="/web/20191114223317/https://thehill.com/homenews/1230-report" class="menu__link menu__link">12:30 Report</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf leaf depth-2"><a href="/web/20191114223317/https://thehill.com/homenews/politics-101" class="menu__link menu__link">Politics 101</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf leaf depth-2"><a href="/web/20191114223317/https://thehill.com/blogs/floor-action" class="menu__link menu__link">Floor Action</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf leaf depth-2"><a href="/web/20191114223317/https://thehill.com/blogs/in-the-know" class="menu__link menu__link">In The Know</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf last leaf depth-2"><a href="/web/20191114223317/https://thehill.com/homenews/sunday-talk-shows" class="menu__link menu__link">Sunday Talk Shows</a></li> </ul></div></li> <li class="menu__item is-expanded menu__item is-expanded expanded depth-1"><a href="/web/20191114223317/https://thehill.com/policy" class="menu__link menu__link">Policy</a><div class="menu-wrapper"><ul class="menu"><li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf first leaf depth-2"><a href="/web/20191114223317/https://thehill.com/policy/defense" class="menu__link menu__link">Defense</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf leaf depth-2"><a href="/web/20191114223317/https://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment" class="menu__link menu__link">Energy & Environment</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf leaf depth-2"><a href="/web/20191114223317/https://thehill.com/policy/finance" class="menu__link menu__link">Finance</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf leaf depth-2"><a href="/web/20191114223317/https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare" class="menu__link menu__link">Healthcare</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf leaf depth-2"><a href="/web/20191114223317/https://thehill.com/policy/technology" class="menu__link menu__link">Technology</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf leaf depth-2"><a href="/web/20191114223317/https://thehill.com/policy/transportation" class="menu__link menu__link">Transportation</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf leaf depth-2"><a href="/web/20191114223317/https://thehill.com/policy/international" class="menu__link menu__link">International</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf leaf depth-2"><a href="/web/20191114223317/https://thehill.com/policy/cybersecurity" class="menu__link menu__link">Cybersecurity</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf last leaf depth-2"><a href="/web/20191114223317/https://thehill.com/policy/national-security" class="menu__link menu__link">National Security</a></li> </ul></div></li> <li class="menu__item is-active-trail is-expanded menu__item is-active-trail is-expanded expanded active-trail depth-1"><a href="/web/20191114223317/https://thehill.com/opinion" class="menu__link is-active-trail menu__link is-active-trail active-trail">Opinion</a><div class="menu-wrapper opa-opinion-menu"><ul class="menu"><li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf first leaf depth-2"><a href="/web/20191114223317/https://thehill.com/opinion/columnists" class="menu__link menu__link">Columnists</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf last leaf depth-2"><a href="/web/20191114223317/https://thehill.com/blogs/congress-blog" class="menu__link menu__link">Congress Blog</a></li> </ul><div class="opa-opinion-submenu"> <a href="/web/20191114223317/https://thehill.com/opinion" class="opa-opinion-submenu-all">All Contributors</a> <ul class="menu"><li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf first leaf depth-1"><a href="/web/20191114223317/https://thehill.com/opinion/campaign" class="menu__link menu__link">- Campaign</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf leaf depth-1"><a href="/web/20191114223317/https://thehill.com/opinion/civil-rights" class="menu__link menu__link">- Civil Rights</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf leaf depth-1"><a href="/web/20191114223317/https://thehill.com/opinion/criminal-justice" class="menu__link menu__link">- Criminal Justice</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf leaf depth-1"><a href="/web/20191114223317/https://thehill.com/opinion/education" class="menu__link menu__link">- Education</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf leaf depth-1"><a href="/web/20191114223317/https://thehill.com/opinion/energy-environment" class="menu__link menu__link">- Energy & Environment</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf leaf depth-1"><a href="/web/20191114223317/https://thehill.com/opinion/finance" class="menu__link menu__link">- Finance</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf leaf depth-1"><a href="/web/20191114223317/https://thehill.com/opinion/healthcare" class="menu__link menu__link">- Healthcare</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf leaf depth-1"><a href="/web/20191114223317/https://thehill.com/opinion/immigration" class="menu__link menu__link">- Immigration</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf leaf depth-1"><a href="/web/20191114223317/https://thehill.com/opinion/international" class="menu__link menu__link">- International</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf leaf depth-1"><a href="/web/20191114223317/https://thehill.com/opinion/judiciary" class="menu__link menu__link">- Judiciary</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-active-trail is-leaf menu__item is-active-trail is-leaf leaf active-trail depth-1"><a href="/web/20191114223317/https://thehill.com/opinion/technology" class="menu__link is-active-trail menu__link is-active-trail active-trail">- Technology</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf leaf depth-1"><a href="/web/20191114223317/https://thehill.com/opinion/white-house" class="menu__link menu__link">- White House</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf last leaf depth-1"><a href="/web/20191114223317/https://thehill.com/contributor-application-form" class="menu__link menu__link">- Become A Contributor</a></li> </ul> </div></div></li> <li class="menu__item is-expanded menu__item is-expanded expanded depth-1"><a href="/web/20191114223317/https://thehill.com/events" class="menu__link menu__link">Events</a><div class="menu-wrapper"><ul class="menu"><li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf first leaf depth-2"><a href="/web/20191114223317/https://thehill.com/events" class="menu__link menu__link">Upcoming Events</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf last leaf depth-2"><a href="/web/20191114223317/https://thehill.com/events/about" class="menu__link menu__link">About</a></li> </ul></div></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf leaf depth-1"><a href="/web/20191114223317/https://thehill.com/resources/classifieds/employer" class="menu__link menu__link">Jobs</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf leaf depth-1"><a href="/web/20191114223317/https://thehill.com/hilltv" class="menu__link menu__link hill-tv">HILL.TV</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-expanded menu__item is-expanded last expanded black depth-1"><a href="/web/20191114223317/https://thehill.com/changing-america" class="menu__link menu__link">Changing America </a><div class="menu-wrapper"><ul class="menu"><li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf first leaf depth-2"><a href="/web/20191114223317/https://thehill.com/changing-america/respect" class="menu__link menu__link">Respect</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf leaf depth-2"><a href="/web/20191114223317/https://thehill.com/changing-america/sustainability" class="menu__link menu__link">Sustainability</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf leaf depth-2"><a href="/web/20191114223317/https://thehill.com/changing-america/enrichment" class="menu__link menu__link">Enrichment</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf leaf depth-2"><a href="/web/20191114223317/https://thehill.com/changing-america/resilience" class="menu__link menu__link">Resilience</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf last leaf depth-2"><a href="/web/20191114223317/https://thehill.com/changing-america/well-being" class="menu__link menu__link">Well-Being</a></li> </ul></div></li> </ul></div> </div> </div> <div class="region region-controls"> <div id="block-social-share-social-share" class="block block-social-share first odd"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191114223317/http://www.facebook.com/TheHill" class="social-share-facebook" target="_blank">Facebook</a> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191114223317/https://twitter.com/intent/follow?screen_name=thehill" class="social-share-twitter-follow" target="_blank">Twitter</a> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191114223317/https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-hill" class="social-share-linkedin" target="_blank">LinkedIn</a>  </div> <div id="block-search-form" class="block block-search last even" role="search"> <form action="/web/20191114223317/https://thehill.com/search/site" method="post" id="search-block-form" accept-charset="UTF-8"><div><div class="container-inline"> <h2 class="element-invisible">Search form</h2> <div class="form-item form-type-textfield form-item-search-block-form"> <label class="element-invisible" for="edit-search-block-form--2">Search </label> <input title="Enter the terms you wish to search for." placeholder="TYPE TO SEARCH" type="text" id="edit-search-block-form--2" name="search_block_form" value="" size="0" maxlength="128" class="form-text"/> </div> <div class="form-actions form-wrapper" id="edit-actions"><input type="submit" id="edit-submit" name="op" value="Search" class="form-submit"/></div><input type="hidden" name="form_build_id" value="form-hegePSGrrBgDFzDNlecFTgif2vxhWwIQeLY_HEkKYlw"/> <input type="hidden" name="form_id" value="search_block_form"/> </div> </div></form> </div> </div> </nav> </div> </div> </header><div id="page" class="page-new-layout responsive"> <div id="main" class="scrolling-content "> <div class="region region-highlighted"> <div id="block-term-queue-0" class="block block-term-queue first last odd"> <h2 class="block__title block-title">TRENDING:</h2> <ul class="term-queue-links"><li class="0 first"><a href="/web/20191114223317/https://thehill.com/person/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a></li> <li class="1"><a href="/web/20191114223317/https://thehill.com/social-tags/impeachment">Impeachment</a></li> <li class="2 last"><a href="/web/20191114223317/https://thehill.com/social-tags/deposition-transcripts">deposition transcripts</a></li> </ul> </div> </div> <div class="region region-top-page"> <div id="block-dfp-leaderboard" class="block block-dfp first last odd"> <div id="dfp-ad-leaderboard-wrapper" class="dfp-tag-wrapper"> <a href="#" class="hide_overlay"></a> <div id="dfp-ad-leaderboard" class="dfp-inner"> <script type="text/javascript"> googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display("dfp-ad-leaderboard"); }); </script> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="content-item"> <div class="left-sidebar"> <a href="/web/20191114223317/https://thehill.com/" title="TheHill" rel="home" alt="TheHill.com"> <img class="logo" alt="TheHill.com" src="/web/20191114223317im_/https://thehill.com/sites/all/themes/thehill/images/redesign/thehill-logo-big.png"/> </a> </div> <div class="content-wrapper title"> <h1 class="title" id="page-title">NASA’s unnecessary $504 million lunar orbit project doesn’t help us get back to the Moon</h1> <div class="submitted-wrp"> <span class="submitted-by"> By Mark Whittington, opinion contributor — <span class="submitted-date">06/16/18 12:30 PM EDT</span> </span> <a href="/web/20191114223317/https://thehill.com/opinion/technology/392611-nasas-unnecessary-504-million-lunar-orbit-project-doesnt-help-us-get-back#bottom-story-socials" class="disqus-comments" data-disqus-identifier="node/392611"></a> <div class="submitted-by"> The views expressed by contributors are their own and not the view of The Hill </div> </div> </div> <div class="content-wrapper social"> <div class="blogs-social-wrp"> <span data-behavior="social-share-count" data-href="https://thehill.com/opinion/technology/392611-nasas-unnecessary-504-million-lunar-orbit-project-doesnt-help-us-get-back" class="social-share-count social-share-count-392611" data-nid="392611"></span> <div class="addthis_inline_share_toolbox_ru82"></div> <div class="share-additional"> <div class="share-linkedin"> <script> ;(function(){ var linkedinScriptEl = document.querySelector('script[src="//web.archive.org/web/20191114223317/https://platform.linkedin.com/in.js"]'); if (linkedinScriptEl == null) { var shareLinkedinEl = document.querySelector('.share-linkedin'); var scriptEl = document.createElement('script'); scriptEl.src = "//web.archive.org/web/20191114223317/https://platform.linkedin.com/in.js"; scriptEl.async = true; scriptEl.innerHTML = " lang: en_US"; shareLinkedinEl.appendChild(scriptEl); } })(); </script> <script type="IN/Share"></script> </div> </div> <div class="share"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191114223317/mailto:/?subject=TheHill.com%3A%20NASA%E2%80%99s%20unnecessary%20%24504%20million%20lunar%20orbit%20project%20doesn%E2%80%99t%20help%20us%20get%20back%20to%20the%20Moon&body=From%20TheHill.com%3A%20%0A%0AThe%C2%A0%C2%A0lunar%20orbiting%20space%20station%20is%20not%20necessary%20for%20men%20to%20go%20to%20the%20moon%20and%20back....%0A%0Ahttps%3A//thehill.com/opinion/technology/392611-nasas-unnecessary-504-million-lunar-orbit-project-doesnt-help-us-get-back" class="email"> </a> </div> </div> </div> <div class="left-sidebar-2"> <div class="region region-column-left"> <div id="block-views-articles-articles-just-in" class="block block-views first odd"> <div id="block-views-articles-articles_just_in-ajax-content" class="ajaxblocks-wrapper"></div> </div> <div id="block-thehill-contributors-latest-opinion" class="block block-thehill-contributors even"> <div class="opa-ls-latest"> <div class="opa-view-all additional"> <a href="/web/20191114223317/https://thehill.com/opinion">View Latest Opinions >></a> </div> </div> </div> <div id="block-block-50" class="block block-block odd"> <div style="width:215px; height:200px; padding:0; margin:0;"></div> </div> <div id="block-block-52" class="block block-block last even">  <div class="OUTBRAIN" data-src="https://web.archive.org/web/20191114223317oe_/https://thehill.com/opinion/technology/392611-nasas-unnecessary-504-million-lunar-orbit-project-doesnt-help-us-get-back" data-widget-id="SB_1" data-ob-template="The Hill"></div> </div> </div> <div class="left-sidebar-space"> </div> </div> <div class="content-wrapper"> <div id="content" class="column"> <article class="node-392611 node node-article view-mode-full clearfix" about="/opinion/technology/392611-nasas-unnecessary-504-million-lunar-orbit-project-doesnt-help-us-get-back" typeof="sioc:Item foaf:Document"> <header> <span property="dc:title" content="NASA’s unnecessary $504 million lunar orbit project doesn’t help us get back to the Moon" class="rdf-meta element-hidden"></span> </header> <div class="content-img-wrp"> <div class="content-img"><img typeof="foaf:Image" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20191114223317im_/https://thehill.com/sites/default/files/styles/thumb_small_article/public/moon_nasa.jpg?itok=p5NFoVfs" width="640" height="360" alt="NASA’s unnecessary $504 million lunar orbit project doesn’t help us get back to the Moon"/></div><div class="credits">© Getty Images</div> </div> <div class="content-with-sidebar-wrp"> <div class="content-wrp"> <div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"><p>As part of the return to the moon program, NASA is planning to build a human-tended space station in lunar orbit dubbed the <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191114223317/https://www.nasa.gov/feature/nasa-s-lunar-outpost-will-extend-human-presence-in-deep-space">Lunar Orbiting Platform-Gateway</a> (LOP-G.) The lunar space station would accommodate crews of four for 60 to 90 days. According to the space agency, the LOP-G crew “will also participate in a variety of deep-space exploration and commercial activities in the vicinity of the Moon, including possible missions to the lunar surface. NASA also wants to leverage the gateway for scientific investigations near and on the Moon.” </p><p>The LOP-G started life as the Deep Space Gateway back in the middle of the Obama administration. NASA tried to sell the DSG as a laboratory to test technologies that would be useful for the Journey to Mars program that had been announced by then President Obama during his Kennedy Space Center speech on April 15, 2010. </p><div id="dfp-ad-mosad_1-wrapper" class="dfp-tag-wrapper wrapper"><div id="dfp-ad-mosad_1" class="dfp-tag-wrapper"><span>ADVERTISEMENT</span><script type="text/javascript"> <![CDATA[// ><!]]> </script></div></div><p>The other thing that the Deep Space Gateway would do was to allow astronauts to control uncrewed rovers on the lunar surface in real time. It was likely this feature that caused a decided lack of enthusiasm in the Obama White House. The then president had specifically ruled out any missions to the moon.</p><p> </p><p>However, the Deep Space Gateway got some traction when it was repurposed to serve as a base for the Asteroid Redirect Mission. The ARM’s goal was to divert an asteroid and move it to lunar orbit. A crew of astronauts would travel to the DSG and study the asteroid during a two-to-three-month mission. Later, the ARM morphed to grabbing a boulder from an asteroid rather than moving the asteroid itself. The ARM subsequently died from lack of interest. </p><p>The Lunar Orbital Platform-Gateway, as the Deep Space Gateway is now called, will now serve as a way station for trips to the lunar surface and then, eventually, to Mars. The concept involves a crew of astronauts taking an Orion spacecraft, launched on top of a heavy-lift Space Launch System, to the LOP-G.</p><p>Astronauts would travel to the lunar surface in a reusable lunar lander that would be docked at the lunar orbiting space station. Later, the astronauts would return to the Lunar Orbital Platform-Gateway in the lunar lander, transfer to the Orion, and return to Earth.</p><p>The Lunar Orbital Platform-Gateway would be expensive, costing $504.2 million in <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191114223317/https://appropriations.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=395291">fiscal 2019</a> alone. Considering that a lunar orbiting space station was not necessary for men to go to the moon and back during the Apollo program, some thought might be given as to whether the LOP-G is crucial for returning to the moon. Any complex infrastructure that is in the critical path for humans returning to the moon has every potential to delay that event if costs begin to overrun and the schedule slips.</p><p>For instance, the Orion and the lunar lander could be launched from Earth separately, then rendezvous and dock in lunar orbit. The plan developed for the Bush-era Constellation program had that arrangement. A reusable lunar lander could be refueled from a depot on the lunar surface and left in a parking orbit between missions without the need for a big, complex space station.</p><p>It should be noted that if SpaceX develops the Big Falcon Rocket for deep-space travel, it will not need the LOP-G to go to the moon or anywhere else. It would top off fuel in Earth orbit before going directly to the moon, Mars, or any other destination.</p><p>NASA Administrator <span class="rollover-people" data-behavior="rolloverpeople"><a class="rollover-people-link" data-nid="186439" href="/web/20191114223317/https://thehill.com/people/jim-bridenstine">Jim Bridenstine</a><span class="rollover-people-block" id="rollover-people-186439"><span class="rollover-block"><span><img typeof="foaf:Image" src="/web/20191114223317im_/https://thehill.com/sites/default/files/styles/thumb_100/public/blogs/bridenstine.jpg?itok=RgZqy3G3" width="100" height="100" alt=""/><a class="name" href="/web/20191114223317/https://thehill.com/people/jim-bridenstine">James (Jim) Frederick Bridenstine</a><a class="people-articles" href="/web/20191114223317/https://thehill.com/opinion/technology/469885-why-voyager-2s-discoveries-from-interstellar-space-have-scientists-excited">Why Voyager 2's discoveries from interstellar space have scientists excited</a> <a class="people-articles" href="/web/20191114223317/https://thehill.com/opinion/technology/469371-nasa-planned-expedition-to-orbit-pluto-wont-settle-whether-its-a-planet">NASA planned expedition to orbit Pluto won't settle whether it's a planet </a> <a class="people-articles" href="/web/20191114223317/https://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/467555-nasa-administrator-i-believe-pluto-is-a-planet">NASA Administrator: 'I believe Pluto is a planet'</a> <a class="more" href="/web/20191114223317/https://thehill.com/people/jim-bridenstine">MORE<span></span></a></span></span></span></span> expressed support for the facility at a speech at a Space Transportation Association luncheon. However, he should convene a panel of experts to review the Lunar Orbital Platform-Gateway. The panel would determine whether it is needed in the early to mid-2020s when planned or whether it can be delayed or canceled altogether, freeing funds to go directly to the moon sooner rather than later. </p><p>The new space agency chief was chosen because he represents a fresh perspective for the problems of space exploration. Figuring out whether the LOP-G is a white elephant or not would be part of bringing that point of view to bear.</p><p><em>Mark Whittington is the author of space exploration studies “<a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191114223317/https://www.amazon.com/Why-So-Hard-Back-Moon/dp/1515362701/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=">Why is It So Hard to Go Back to the Moon?</a> as well as “<a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191114223317/https://www.amazon.com/Moon-Mars-Beyond-Mark-Whittington-ebook/dp/B078QBL74C/ref=pd_rhf_gw_p_img_2?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=84WE12QFGYZ64P5EVVP9">The Moon, Mars and Beyond</a>.”</em></p></div></div></div> <div class="article-tags"> <span>Tags</span> <a href="/web/20191114223317/https://thehill.com/person/jim-bridenstine" title="Jim Bridenstine">Jim Bridenstine</a> <a href="/web/20191114223317/https://thehill.com/social-tags/mark-whittington" title="Mark Whittington">Mark Whittington</a> <a href="/web/20191114223317/https://thehill.com/social-tags/moon" title="Moon">Moon</a> <a href="/web/20191114223317/https://thehill.com/social-tags/nasa" title="NASA">NASA</a> <a href="/web/20191114223317/https://thehill.com/social-tags/space-exploration" title="Space exploration">Space exploration</a> </div> <div id="bottom-story-socials" class="blogs-social-wrp"> <div class="addthis_inline_share_toolbox_ru82"></div> <div class="share-additional"> <div class="share-linkedin"> <script> ;(function(){ var linkedinScriptEl = document.querySelector('script[src="//web.archive.org/web/20191114223317/https://platform.linkedin.com/in.js"]'); if (linkedinScriptEl == null) { var shareLinkedinEl = document.querySelector('.share-linkedin'); var scriptEl = document.createElement('script'); scriptEl.src = "//web.archive.org/web/20191114223317/https://platform.linkedin.com/in.js"; scriptEl.async = true; scriptEl.innerHTML = " lang: en_US"; shareLinkedinEl.appendChild(scriptEl); } })(); </script> <script type="IN/Share"></script> </div> </div> <div class="share"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191114223317/mailto:/?subject=TheHill.com%3A%20NASA%E2%80%99s%20unnecessary%20%24504%20million%20lunar%20orbit%20project%20doesn%E2%80%99t%20help%20us%20get%20back%20to%20the%20Moon&body=From%20TheHill.com%3A%20%0A%0AThe%C2%A0%C2%A0lunar%20orbiting%20space%20station%20is%20not%20necessary%20for%20men%20to%20go%20to%20the%20moon%20and%20back....%0A%0Ahttps%3A//thehill.com/opinion/technology/392611-nasas-unnecessary-504-million-lunar-orbit-project-doesnt-help-us-get-back" class="email"> </a> </div> </div> </div> </div> </article> <div class="region region-content-bottom"> <div id="block-disqus-disqus-comments-392611" class="block block-disqus first odd"> <div id="disqus_thread"><noscript><p><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191114223317/http://thehill-v4.disqus.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fthehill.com%2Fopinion%2Ftechnology%2F392611-nasas-unnecessary-504-million-lunar-orbit-project-doesnt-help-us-get-back">View the discussion thread.</a></p></noscript></div> </div> <div id="block-block-51" class="block block-block last even">  <div class="OUTBRAIN" data-src="https://web.archive.org/web/20191114223317oe_/https://thehill.com/opinion/technology/392611-nasas-unnecessary-504-million-lunar-orbit-project-doesnt-help-us-get-back" data-widget-id="AR_1" data-ob-template="The Hill"></div> </div> </div> </div> <aside class="sidebars"> <section class="region region-sidebar-second column sidebar"> <div id="block-dfp-rightrail-top" class="block block-dfp first odd"> <div id="dfp-ad-rightrail_top-wrapper" class="dfp-tag-wrapper"> <a href="#" class="hide_overlay"></a> <div id="dfp-ad-rightrail_top" class="dfp-inner"> <script type="text/javascript"> googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display("dfp-ad-rightrail_top"); }); </script> </div> </div> </div> <div id="block-mostpopular-1" class="block block-mostpopular even"> <h2 class="block__title block-title">Most Popular</h2> <div id="block-mostpopular-1-ajax-content" class="ajaxblocks-wrapper"></div> </div> <div id="block-views-hill-tv-block-video-widget" class="block block-views odd"> <h2 class="block__title block-title">Video</h2> <div class="view view-hill-tv view-id-hill_tv view-display-id-block_video_widget hill-tv-video-widget view-dom-id-bf7299ff28b153bfe904d8365d2388f4"> <div class="view-content"> <div class="views-row views-row-1 views-row-odd views-row-first"> <div class="views-field views-field-field-image"> <div class="field-content"><a href="/web/20191114223317/https://thehill.com/hilltv/rising/470551-saagar-enjeti-claims-pelosis-impeachment-strategy-could-hurt-2020-democrats"><img typeof="foaf:Image" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20191114223317im_/https://thehill.com/sites/default/files/styles/leading_video/public/2020dems_yang_booker_harris_buttigieg_castro_getty2019.jpg?itok=ouspetLu" width="306" height="171"/></a></div> </div> <div class="views-field views-field-title"> <span class="field-content"><a href="/web/20191114223317/https://thehill.com/hilltv/rising/470551-saagar-enjeti-claims-pelosis-impeachment-strategy-could-hurt-2020-democrats">Saagar Enjeti claims Pelosi's impeachment strategy could hurt 2020 Democrats </a></span> </div> <div class="views-field views-field-field-article-categories"> <div class="field-content">Rising</div> </div> </div> <div class="views-row views-row-2 views-row-even"> <div class="views-field views-field-field-image"> <div class="field-content"><a href="/web/20191114223317/https://thehill.com/hilltv/rising/470545-gop-lawmaker-calls-impeachment-inquiry-a-disaster-for-american-people"><img typeof="foaf:Image" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20191114223317im_/https://thehill.com/sites/default/files/styles/leading_video/public/trumpdonald_110419getty.jpg?itok=Asy2JYhA" width="306" height="171"/></a></div> </div> <div class="views-field views-field-title"> <span class="field-content"><a href="/web/20191114223317/https://thehill.com/hilltv/rising/470545-gop-lawmaker-calls-impeachment-inquiry-a-disaster-for-american-people">GOP lawmaker calls impeachment inquiry a 'disaster' for American people</a></span> </div> <div class="views-field views-field-field-article-categories"> <div class="field-content">Rising</div> </div> </div> <div class="views-row views-row-3 views-row-odd"> <div class="views-field views-field-field-image"> <div class="field-content"><a href="/web/20191114223317/https://thehill.com/hilltv/rising/470528-poll-41-percent-believe-most-news-stories-but-not-certain-sources"><img typeof="foaf:Image" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20191114223317im_/https://thehill.com/sites/default/files/styles/leading_video/public/trump_media_11072019_1.jpg?itok=XhhbUvzt" width="306" height="171"/></a></div> </div> <div class="views-field views-field-title"> <span class="field-content"><a href="/web/20191114223317/https://thehill.com/hilltv/rising/470528-poll-41-percent-believe-most-news-stories-but-not-certain-sources"> Poll: 41 percent believe most news stories, but not certain sources</a></span> </div> <div class="views-field views-field-field-article-categories"> <div class="field-content">Rising</div> </div> </div> <div class="views-row views-row-4 views-row-even views-row-last"> <div class="views-field views-field-field-image"> <div class="field-content"><a href="/web/20191114223317/https://thehill.com/hilltv/rising/470491-donald-trump-jr-says-critics-are-subverting-will-of-the-people"><img typeof="foaf:Image" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20191114223317im_/https://thehill.com/sites/default/files/styles/leading_video/public/trumpjr-donald-getty_0_0.jpg?itok=ODfxqJx1" width="306" height="171"/></a></div> </div> <div class="views-field views-field-title"> <span class="field-content"><a href="/web/20191114223317/https://thehill.com/hilltv/rising/470491-donald-trump-jr-says-critics-are-subverting-will-of-the-people">Donald Trump Jr. says critics are 'subverting will of the people' </a></span> </div> <div class="views-field views-field-field-article-categories"> <div class="field-content">Rising</div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div id="block-dfp-rightrail-bottom" class="block block-dfp even"> <div id="dfp-ad-rightrail_bottom-wrapper" class="dfp-tag-wrapper"> <a href="#" class="hide_overlay"></a> <div id="dfp-ad-rightrail_bottom" class="dfp-inner"> <script type="text/javascript"> googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display("dfp-ad-rightrail_bottom"); }); </script> </div> </div> </div> <div id="block-block-3" class="block block-block last odd"> <h2 class="block__title block-title">More From The Web</h2> <div class="newsmax-fark-block-target" height="0" width="0"></div> <script> var block=""; var tgt_item = jQuery('.node.view-mode-full').length - 1; var isHero = jQuery('.hero-image').length; tgt_item = tgt_item < 0 ? 0 : tgt_item; var tgt = jQuery(".newsmax-fark-block-target")[tgt_item]; var rnd = Math.floor(Math.random(100) * 100); var query_param = window.location.search; var fark_override = false; if(query_param.length > 0 && query_param.indexOf("fark_override") >= 0) { fark_override = true; } if(!isHero) { if(rnd >= 30 && !fark_override) { block += "<p style=\"font-family:Arial;color:#666666;font-size:11px;text-align:right;margin-bottom:-24px;padding-top:10px\">Sponsored<\/p>"; block += "<div style=\"margin:20px 0;\">"; block += "<div id=\"yp6_inject_bn75TWX4O573bji1xoe95X\"><\/div>"; block += "<\/div>"; block += ""; jQuery(block).insertBefore(tgt); jQuery.ajaxSetup({cache: true}); jQuery.getScript("https://web.archive.org/web/20191114223317/https://static.newsmaxfeednetwork.com/web-clients/bootloaders/bn75TWX4O573bji1xoe95X/bootloader.js"); } else { block += ""; block += "<p style=\"font-family:Arial;color:#666666;font-size:11px;text-align:right;margin-bottom:-10px;\">Sponsored<\/p>"; block += "<div id=\"unit_93728\"><a href=\"https://mixi.media/\" rel=\"nofollow\"></a></div>"; block += "<script type=\"text/javascript\" charset=\"utf-8\">"; block += "(function() {"; block += "var sc = document.createElement('script'); sc.type = 'text/javascript'; sc.async = true;"; block += "sc.src = '//web.archive.org/web/20191114223317/https://mixi.media/data/js/93728.js'; sc.charset = 'utf-8';"; block += "var s = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(sc, s);"; block += " }());"; block += "<\/script>"; block += ""; //jQuery(block).insertBefore(tgt); }; }; </script> </div> </section> </aside> </div> </div>  </div> <div class="page-bottom"> <div class="region region-footer-bottom"> <div id="block-thehill-blocks-footer-signup" class="block block-thehill-blocks first last odd"> <div class="simple-signup-form"> <div class="text">Don't miss a brief. <span>Sign up for our daily email.</span></div> <form action="/web/20191114223317/https://thehill.com/opinion/technology/392611-nasas-unnecessary-504-million-lunar-orbit-project-doesnt-help-us-get-back" method="post" id="thehill-blocks-signup-form" accept-charset="UTF-8"><div><div class="form-item form-type-textfield form-item-email"> <label for="edit-email">Your Email </label> <input placeholder="" type="text" id="edit-email" name="email" value="" size="60" maxlength="128" class="form-text"/> </div> <div class="form-item form-type-textfield form-item-list"> <input class="hidden form-text" type="text" id="edit-list" name="list" value="" size="60" maxlength="128"/> </div> <input type="submit" id="edit-submit--2" name="op" value="Submit" class="form-submit"/><input type="hidden" name="form_build_id" value="form-ERzdO_xdKvNuXjHC1BbDiNjkgpU4uIK2Mv46RsQkP6Q"/> <input type="hidden" name="form_id" value="thehill_blocks_signup_form"/> </div></form></div> </div> </div> <a href="/web/20191114223317/https://thehill.com/" title="TheHill" rel="home" alt="TheHill.com"> <img class="logo" alt="TheHill.com" src="/web/20191114223317im_/https://thehill.com/sites/all/themes/thehill/images/redesign/thehill-logo-footer.png"/> </a> <div class="region region-bottom-column1"> <div id="block-menu-menu-home" class="block block-menu first odd" role="navigation"> <h2 class="block__title block-title">News</h2> <ul class="menu"><li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf first leaf depth-1"><a href="/web/20191114223317/https://thehill.com/homenews/senate" class="menu__link menu__link">Senate</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf leaf depth-1"><a href="/web/20191114223317/https://thehill.com/homenews/house" class="menu__link menu__link">House</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf leaf depth-1"><a href="/web/20191114223317/https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign" class="menu__link menu__link">Campaign</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf leaf depth-1"><a href="/web/20191114223317/https://thehill.com/homenews/administration" class="menu__link menu__link">Administration</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf leaf depth-1"><a href="/web/20191114223317/https://thehill.com/regulation" class="menu__link menu__link">Regulation</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf leaf depth-1"><a href="/web/20191114223317/https://thehill.com/homenews/media" class="menu__link menu__link">Media</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf leaf depth-1"><a href="/web/20191114223317/https://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room" class="menu__link menu__link">Briefing Room</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf leaf depth-1"><a href="/web/20191114223317/https://thehill.com/latino" class="menu__link menu__link">Latino</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf leaf depth-1"><a href="/web/20191114223317/https://thehill.com/polls" class="menu__link menu__link">Polls</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf leaf depth-1"><a href="/web/20191114223317/https://thehill.com/homenews/1230-report" class="menu__link menu__link">12:30 Report</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf leaf depth-1"><a href="/web/20191114223317/https://thehill.com/blogs/floor-action" class="menu__link menu__link">Floor Action</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf leaf depth-1"><a href="/web/20191114223317/https://thehill.com/blogs/in-the-know" class="menu__link menu__link">In The Know</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf leaf depth-1"><a href="/web/20191114223317/https://thehill.com/homenews/sunday-talk-shows" class="menu__link menu__link">Sunday Talk Shows</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf last leaf depth-1"><a href="/web/20191114223317/https://thehill.com/" class="menu__link menu__link">More</a></li> </ul> </div> <div id="block-menu-menu-policy-menu" class="block block-menu even" role="navigation"> <h2 class="block__title block-title">Policy</h2> <ul class="menu"><li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf first leaf depth-1"><a href="/web/20191114223317/https://thehill.com/policy/defense" class="menu__link menu__link">Defense</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf leaf depth-1"><a href="/web/20191114223317/https://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment" class="menu__link menu__link">Energy & Environment</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf leaf depth-1"><a href="/web/20191114223317/https://thehill.com/policy/finance" class="menu__link menu__link">Finance</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf leaf depth-1"><a href="/web/20191114223317/https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare" class="menu__link menu__link">Healthcare</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf leaf depth-1"><a href="/web/20191114223317/https://thehill.com/policy/technology" class="menu__link menu__link">Technology</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf leaf depth-1"><a href="/web/20191114223317/https://thehill.com/policy/international" class="menu__link menu__link">International</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf leaf depth-1"><a href="/web/20191114223317/https://thehill.com/policy/transportation" class="menu__link menu__link">Transportation</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf leaf depth-1"><a href="/web/20191114223317/https://thehill.com/policy/cybersecurity" class="menu__link menu__link">Cybersecurity</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf leaf depth-1"><a href="/web/20191114223317/https://thehill.com/policy/national-security" class="menu__link menu__link">National Security</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf last leaf depth-1"><a href="/web/20191114223317/https://thehill.com/policy" class="menu__link menu__link">More</a></li> </ul> </div> <div id="block-menu-menu-video" class="block block-menu odd" role="navigation"> <h2 class="block__title block-title">Video</h2> <ul class="menu"><li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf first leaf depth-1"><a href="/web/20191114223317/https://thehill.com/video/hilltube" class="menu__link menu__link">Latest</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf leaf depth-1"><a href="/web/20191114223317/https://thehill.com/video/defense" class="menu__link menu__link">Defense</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf leaf depth-1"><a href="/web/20191114223317/https://thehill.com/video/energy-environment" class="menu__link menu__link">Energy & Environment</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf leaf depth-1"><a href="/web/20191114223317/https://thehill.com/video/finance" class="menu__link menu__link">Finance</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf leaf depth-1"><a href="/web/20191114223317/https://thehill.com/video/healthcare" class="menu__link menu__link">Healthcare</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf leaf depth-1"><a href="/web/20191114223317/https://thehill.com/video/technology" class="menu__link menu__link">Technology</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf leaf depth-1"><a href="/web/20191114223317/https://thehill.com/video/transportation" class="menu__link menu__link">Transportation</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf leaf depth-1"><a href="/web/20191114223317/https://thehill.com/video/international" class="menu__link menu__link">International</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf leaf depth-1"><a href="/web/20191114223317/https://thehill.com/video/cybersecurity" class="menu__link menu__link">Cybersecurity</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf leaf depth-1"><a href="/web/20191114223317/https://thehill.com/video/national-security" class="menu__link menu__link">National Security</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf leaf depth-1"><a href="/web/20191114223317/https://thehill.com/video/sunday-shows" class="menu__link menu__link">Sunday Shows</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf leaf depth-1"><a href="/web/20191114223317/https://thehill.com/video/events" class="menu__link menu__link">Events</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf last leaf depth-1"><a href="/web/20191114223317/https://thehill.com/hill-tube" class="menu__link menu__link">More</a></li> </ul> </div> <div id="block-menu-menu-opinion" class="block block-menu last even" role="navigation"> <h2 class="block__title block-title">Opinion</h2> <ul class="menu"><li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf first leaf depth-1"><a href="/web/20191114223317/https://thehill.com/opinion/columnists/brent-budowsky" class="menu__link menu__link">Brent Budowsky</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf leaf depth-1"><a href="/web/20191114223317/https://thehill.com/opinion/columnists" class="menu__link menu__link">Columnists</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf leaf depth-1"><a href="/web/20191114223317/https://thehill.com/blogs/congress-blog" class="menu__link menu__link">Congress Blog</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf leaf depth-1"><a href="/web/20191114223317/https://thehill.com/blogs/pundits-blog" class="menu__link menu__link">Contributors</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-active-trail is-leaf menu__item is-active-trail is-leaf last leaf active-trail depth-1"><a href="/web/20191114223317/https://thehill.com/opinion" class="menu__link is-active-trail menu__link is-active-trail active-trail">More</a></li> </ul> </div> </div> <div class="region region-bottom-column2"> <div id="block-menu-menu-anchor-menu" class="block block-menu first odd" role="navigation"> <h2 class="block__title block-title">TheHill.com</h2> <ul class="menu"><li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf first leaf depth-1"><a href="/web/20191114223317/https://thehill.com/privacy-policy" class="menu__link menu__link">Privacy Policy</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf leaf depth-1"><a href="/web/20191114223317/https://thehill.com/terms-and-conditions" class="menu__link menu__link">Terms & Conditions</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf leaf depth-1"><a href="/web/20191114223317/https://thehill.com/contact" class="menu__link menu__link">Contact</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf leaf depth-1"><a href="/web/20191114223317/https://thehill.com/contact/subscriptions" class="menu__link menu__link">Subscriptions</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf last leaf depth-1"><a href="/web/20191114223317/https://thehill.com/contact/advertise" class="menu__link menu__link">Advertise</a></li> </ul> </div> <div id="block-menu-menu-resources" class="block block-menu even" role="navigation"> <h2 class="block__title block-title">Resources</h2> <ul class="menu"><li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf first leaf depth-1"><a href="/web/20191114223317/https://thehill.com/hill-apps" class="menu__link menu__link">The Hill Apps</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf leaf depth-1"><a href="/web/20191114223317/https://thehill.com/people/" class="menu__link menu__link">People</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf last leaf depth-1"><a href="/web/20191114223317/https://thehill.com/resources/rss-feeds" class="menu__link menu__link">RSS</a></li> </ul> </div> <div id="block-menu-menu-menu-contributors" class="block block-menu odd" role="navigation"> <h2 class="block__title block-title">Contributors</h2> <ul class="menu"><li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf first last leaf depth-1"><a href="/web/20191114223317/https://thehill.com/contributor-application-form" class="menu__link menu__link">Become a Contributor</a></li> </ul> </div> <div id="block-menu-menu-contact-us" class="block block-menu last even" role="navigation"> <h2 class="block__title block-title">Other Areas</h2> <ul class="menu"><li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf first leaf depth-1"><a href="/web/20191114223317/https://thehill.com/special-reports/special-reports" class="menu__link menu__link">Special Reports</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf leaf depth-1"><a href="/web/20191114223317/https://thehill.com/galleries" class="menu__link menu__link">Galleries</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf leaf depth-1"><a href="/web/20191114223317/https://thehill.com/classifieds" class="menu__link menu__link">Classifieds</a></li> <li class="menu__item is-leaf menu__item is-leaf last leaf depth-1"><a href="/web/20191114223317/https://thehill.com/resources/classifieds/employer" class="menu__link menu__link">Jobs</a></li> </ul> </div> </div> <div class="clearer"></div> <div class="copyright-wrp"> <div class="region region-copyright"> <div id="block-thehill-blocks-copyright" class="block block-thehill-blocks first odd"> <p>The Hill 1625 K Street, NW Suite 900 Washington DC 20006 | 202-628-8500 tel | 202-628-8503 fax</p><p>The contents of this site are ©2019 Capitol Hill Publishing Corp., a subsidiary of News Communications, Inc.</p> </div> <div id="block-dfp-new-1x1-asynch" class="block block-dfp even"> <div id="dfp-ad-new_1x1_asynch-wrapper" class="dfp-tag-wrapper"> <a href="#" class="hide_overlay"></a> <div id="dfp-ad-new_1x1_asynch" class="dfp-inner"> <script type="text/javascript"> googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display("dfp-ad-new_1x1_asynch"); }); </script> </div> </div> </div> <div id="block-dfp-1x1-oop" class="block block-dfp last odd"> <div id="dfp-ad-1x1_oop-wrapper" class="dfp-tag-wrapper"> <a href="#" class="hide_overlay"></a> <div id="dfp-ad-1x1_oop" class="dfp-inner"> <script type="text/javascript"> googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display("dfp-ad-1x1_oop"); }); </script> </div> <div id="dfp-ad-1x1_oop-oop" class="dfp-tag-wrapper"> <script type="text/javascript"> googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display("dfp-ad-1x1_oop-oop"); }); </script> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="region region-page-bottom"> <script type="text/javascript"> var _sf_async_config=Drupal.settings.chartbeat; _sf_async_config.sections = "Opinion, Opinion - Technology"; _sf_async_config.authors = "Mark Whittington, opinion contributor"; _sf_async_config._demo = "publish_date=2018-06-16,editor=Christine Ayala"; (function(){ function loadChartbeat() { window._sf_endpt=(new Date()).getTime(); var e = document.createElement('script'); e.setAttribute('language', 'javascript'); e.setAttribute('type', 'text/javascript'); e.setAttribute('src', '//web.archive.org/web/20191114223317/https://static.chartbeat.com/js/chartbeat.js'); document.body.appendChild(e); } var oldonload = document.ready; document.ready = (typeof document.ready != 'function') ? loadChartbeat : function() { oldonload(); loadChartbeat(); }; })(); </script> <script> var _comscore = _comscore || []; _comscore.push({"c1":"2","c2":"10314615","c3":"","c4":"https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20191114223317\/https:\/\/thehill.com\/opinion\/technology\/392611-nasas-unnecessary-504-million-lunar-orbit-project-doesnt-help-us-get-back","c5":"","c6":"","c15":""}); (function() { var s = document.createElement("script"), el = document.getElementsByTagName("script")[0]; s.async = true; s.src = (document.location.protocol == "https:" ? "https://web.archive.org/web/20191114223317/https://sb" : "http://b") + ".scorecardresearch.com/beacon.js"; el.parentNode.insertBefore(s, el); })(); </script> <noscript> <img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20191114223317im_/https://sb.scorecardresearch.com/p?c1=2&c2=10314615&c3=&c4=https%3A//thehill.com/opinion/technology/392611-nasas-unnecessary-504-million-lunar-orbit-project-doesnt-help-us-get-back&c5=&c6=&c15=&cv=2.0&cj=1"/> </noscript> <noscript><div style="display:none;"><img src="//web.archive.org/web/20191114223317im_/https://pixel.quantserve.com/pixel/p-51dZx4IkAE4Zk.gif" border="0" height="1" width="1" alt="Quantcast"/></div></noscript><script type="text/javascript" async="async" src="//web.archive.org/web/20191114223317js_/https://widgets.outbrain.com/outbrain.js"></script><script> if(typeof(ga) !== 'undefined') { jQuery('.hill-tv-video-widget a').on('click', function(e) { ga('send', 'event', 'HillTVVideoWidget', 'click', e.currentTarget.pathname); }); } setTimeout(function() { ga('send', 'event', 'AutoRefresh', 'refreshed', document.URL); }, 2640000); </script> <script type="text/javascript"> /*<![CDATA[*/ window.lightboxjs || function (c) { function g(b, d) { d && (d += (/\?/.test(d) ? "&" : "?") + "lv=1"); c[b] || function () { var i = window, h = document, j = b, g = h.location.protocol, l = "load", k = 0; (function () { function b() { a.P(l); a.w = 1; c[j]("_load") } c[j] = function () { function m() { m.id = e; return c[j].apply(m, arguments) } var b, e = ++k; b = this && this != i ? this.id || 0 : 0; (a.s = a.s || []).push([e, b, arguments]); m.then = function (b, c, h) { var d = a.fh[e] = a.fh[e] || [], j = a.eh[e] = a.eh[e] || [], f = a.ph[e] = a.ph[e] || []; b && d.push(b); c && j.push(c); h && f.push(h); return m }; return m }; var a = c[j]._ = {}; a.fh = {}; a.eh = {}; a.ph = {}; a.l = d ? d.replace(/^\/\//, (g == "https:" ? g : "http:") + "//") : d; a.p = { 0: +new Date }; a.P = function (b) { a.p[b] = new Date - a.p[0] }; a.w && b(); i.addEventListener ? i.addEventListener(l, b, !1) : i.attachEvent("on" + l, b); var q = function () { function b() { return ["<head></head><", c, ' onload="var d=', n, ";d.getElementsByTagName('head')[0].", d, "(d.", g, "('script')).", i, "='", a.l, "'\"></", c, ">"].join("") } var c = "body", e = h[c]; if (!e) return setTimeout(q, 100); a.P(1); var d = "appendChild", g = "createElement", i = "src", k = h[g]("div"), l = k[d](h[g]("div")), f = h[g]("iframe"), n = "document", p; k.style.display = "none"; e.insertBefore(k, e.firstChild).id = o + "-" + j; f.frameBorder = "0"; f.id = o + "-frame-" + j; /MSIE[ ]+6/.test(navigator.userAgent) && (f[i] = "javascript:false"); f.allowTransparency = "true"; l[d](f); try { f.contentWindow[n].open() } catch (s) { a.domain = h.domain, p = "javascript:var d=" + n + ".open();d.domain='" + h.domain + "';", f[i] = p + "void(0);" } try { var r = f.contentWindow[n]; r.write(b()); r.close() } catch (t) { f[i] = p + 'd.write("' + b().replace(/"/g, String.fromCharCode(92) + '"') + '");d.close();' } a.P(2) }; a.l && q() })() }(); c[b].lv = "1"; return c[b] } var o = "lightboxjs", k = window[o] = g(o); k.require = g; k.modules = c }({}); /*]]>*/</script><script type="text/javascript">window.lightboxlib = lightboxjs.require("lightboxlib", "//web.archive.org/web/20191114223317/https://www.lightboxcdn.com/vendor/ee48a214-dcd9-4d76-af7b-dd194f9094db/lightbox.js?mb=" + (new Date().getTime()));</script>  <script> if(typeof(ga) !== 'undefined') { jQuery('.hill-tv').on('click', function(e) { ga('send', 'event', 'HillTVTopNav', 'click', e.currentTarget.pathname); }); jQuery('#main-menu img').on('click', function(e) { ga('send', 'event', 'HillTVTopNavShowImg', 'click', e.currentTarget.currentSrc); }); jQuery('document').ready(function() { jQuery('#block-mostpopular-1').on('click', '#thehill-mostpopular-block li a', function(e) { var meta = 'index-'; try { meta = meta + e.currentTarget.parentElement.parentElement.previousElementSibling.innerHTML; } catch(error) { console.log(error); } ga('send', 'event', 'MostPopularItem', 'click', meta); }); if(jQuery('#block-views-articles-articles-just-in').length) { jQuery('#block-views-articles-articles-just-in').on('click', '#block-views-articles-articles-just-in li', function(e) { var justInMeta = 'index-'; try { var regex = /\d+/g; var matches = e.currentTarget.className.match(regex); justInMeta = justInMeta + matches[0]; } catch(e) { console.log(e); } ga('send', 'event', 'JustInItemClick', 'click', justInMeta); }); } }); if(typeof(pbjs) !== "undefined" && typeof(pbjs.version) === "undefined") { ga('send', 'event', 'Ad Setting', 'Adblock', 'Enabled'); } } </script> </div> <script> var param = (new URL(window.location)).searchParams; var uid = param.get("userid"); uid = uid === null ? "" : uid; var dataLayer = { "page": { "author": "Mark Whittington, opinion contributor", "section": "Opinion, Opinion - Technology", "keywords": "Mark Whittington, Moon, NASA, Space exploration,Jim Bridenstine," }, "user": { "userid" : uid } }; </script> <script>var _qevents = _qevents || [];(function() {var elem = document.createElement("script");elem.src = (document.location.protocol == "https:" ? "https://web.archive.org/web/20191114223317/https://secure" : "https://web.archive.org/web/20191114223317/http://edge") + ".quantserve.com/quant.js";elem.async = true;elem.type = "text/javascript";var scpt = document.getElementsByTagName("script")[0];scpt.parentNode.insertBefore(elem, scpt);})();_qevents.push({qacct:"p-51dZx4IkAE4Zk"});</script> <script> var disqus_shortname = 'thehill-v4'; (function () { var s = document.createElement('script'); s.async = true; s.type = 'text/javascript'; s.src = '//' + disqus_shortname + '.disqus.com/count.js'; (document.getElementsByTagName('HEAD')[0] || document.getElementsByTagName('BODY')[0]).appendChild(s); }());</script> <script> (function(d, s, id) { var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0]; if (d.getElementById(id)) return; js = d.createElement(s); js.id = id; js.src = "//web.archive.org/web/20191114223317/https://connect.facebook.net/en_US/sdk.js#xfbml=1&appId=566538590082898&version=v2.9"; fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js, fjs); }(document, 'script', 'facebook-jssdk'));</script> <div id="fb-root"></div> <script src="//web.archive.org/web/20191114223317js_/https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript">window.NREUM||(NREUM={});NREUM.info={"beacon":"bam.nr-data.net","licenseKey":"962df17ac8","applicationID":"48109222","transactionName":"YwRXYBQFWhEEUUYNV1pOdFcSDVsMSlxdAF1rEVRTAztCCwBF","queueTime":0,"applicationTime":675,"atts":"T0NUFlwfSR8=","errorBeacon":"bam.nr-data.net","agent":""}</script></body> </html>