Hopefully within the next two or three years we may see the first woman on the moon.
While the visual aspect of this will potentially inspire a generation of women to engage in STEM I wonder if the cost is justified? Could the money be more usefully used in other scientific endeavours (obviously including women) and outreach activity for global female scientific community?
the reason for the delay in going back to the moon was simply there wasn't a great deal to be found from the moon that could not be obtained by unmanned craft and it seems sensible not to risk human life unnecessarily. In addition it is extremely expensive.
we are now in a position where entry into space has become semi routine with the advent of 'space tourism ' for the extremely wealthy and there have been a number of female astronauts in space. Do we necessarily need the iconic moment of a am on on the moon for inspiration?