One step backwards (Step zero)

Joe,
You're probably right about the asteroid mission not going beyond stated
parameters, my point was that it should, and could with a little foresight.
I'd love to see Bigelow (or anyone) get a commercial facility in orbit ASAP.
Hell if it was up to me, I'd volunteer to go live in a blow-up or a big
styro cup as long as it was off the planet.
I've never figured out why ISS wasn't designed for spin, seemed the natural
approach given all the literature and the known disabilities of living sans
gravity for long periods. It seems that Bigelows' Genesis modules, while
spin capable as individual modules, once joined into a complex will still be
weightless. Don't get me wrong, I'm all in favor of their vision-we need
more people in space any way we can get them there. Now, with Boeing
partnering with Bigelow, it looks like that may happen much more rapidly
than we could have expected otherwise. I simply don't understand why the
micrograv labs won't be deployed as auxiliary to a spun up crew quarters.
Bigelow DOES seem to embody the best possibility for a lunar base of some
sort within a decade or so. In effect, they have the modules-all they need
do is a bit of adaptation for supporting them on the lunar surface and a
transportation system to get them there. I really hope that it works out
according to their (and your) schedule. I've been saying for years that
private sector was the way to go if we wanted to actually accomplish
something significant in space.
I'm one of those folks, however, that would rather see mankind proliferate
outside a gravity well than within one-as you say, "Once you're in orbit,
you're halfway to anywhere". That bias leads me to be an 'asteroid nut' as
they represent one of the primary resources available outside a gravity
well, and one from which all the necessary building blocks for habitat
formation can be drawn. It may be that drawing on that resource will have
to wait, but I, personally, would prefer to see asteroid detection, capture
and resource extraction given much more attention and priority than it
currently receives, particularly in light of the known fact that loose NEOs
and Earth crossing asteroids present a clear and present danger to
civilization on Earth until such capability is developed. The added
possibility of having nearly limitless resources upon which to draw for the
construction of large orbital facilities and space solar power arrays
without having to expend enormous amounts of energy to lift them from a
planetary surface can be seen as either a bonus or a primary motivator.
best,
Victor