It's a glib argument that "state capacity" is the problem here, and it is partially true, but it's also a reality that the moon is much further away in momentum than it in position, particularly if you are making a round trip.
If "state capacity" is the problem, it is manifesting as an inability to be honest about the challenge.
Warner von Braun considered hundreds of possible mission plans before arriving a the one that Apollo used and probably despaired of the possibility of realizing Kennedy's dream until he discovered the one that made it possible. Any other plan to return astronauts from the moon is much more difficult and expensive.
In particular, Starship won't save us at least not in a "return the whole vehicle" configuration. Assuming they get it to orbit and solve refueling, it is a huge vehicle that can return a tiny payload back from the moon. Sending a large number on a one-way trip and breaking them up to establish a base might work, and a similar vehicle using hydrogen-oxygen fuel might be refueled from the glaciers we believe exist at the poles, but any mission like that is difficult and expensive and not being talked about seriously.
It's a glib argument that "state capacity" is the problem here, and it is partially true, but it's also a reality that the moon is much further away in momentum than it in position, particularly if you are making a round trip.
If "state capacity" is the problem, it is manifesting as an inability to be honest about the challenge.
Warner von Braun considered hundreds of possible mission plans before arriving a the one that Apollo used and probably despaired of the possibility of realizing Kennedy's dream until he discovered the one that made it possible. Any other plan to return astronauts from the moon is much more difficult and expensive.
In particular, Starship won't save us at least not in a "return the whole vehicle" configuration. Assuming they get it to orbit and solve refueling, it is a huge vehicle that can return a tiny payload back from the moon. Sending a large number on a one-way trip and breaking them up to establish a base might work, and a similar vehicle using hydrogen-oxygen fuel might be refueled from the glaciers we believe exist at the poles, but any mission like that is difficult and expensive and not being talked about seriously.