Unlike the first time, it isn't new and isn't a technological flex. The payoff from the first time was marginal, measured mainly in the children it inspired to pursue STEM. This time, does anybody even care?

I know, not disagreeing! You just left the ball bouncing and I couldn’t help writing the comment.

i mean maintinaing a Base on the moon is definitely a technological flex. getting there not as much. Still challenging. Is it worth the risk and money? not sure, depends what our plan with this is. As a way to launch moon manufactured space probes? maybe.

Maintaining a base in the Moon absolutely isn't going to happen. SLS is such a pig NASA can't even afford another test with Orion.

i mean it surely will not happen with SLS, but maintinaing a moonbase WOULD be the technological feat