past v present in US space

Ranges depend on whether you measure from the first or last flight of a program that was active over some time period.

Past achievements in space exploration:

• First US satellite in orbit to first man in space: 3 years
• First US satellite in orbit to first man in orbit: 4 years
• First man in orbit to first Moon landing: 8 years
• Moon landings to LEO space station: 1-4 years
• Moon landings to LEO Space Shuttle: 9-11 years
• Pioneer 10 to Voyager 1 and 2: 5 years

Current vision of space exploration:

• First LEO Space Shuttle to LEO space station completion: 19 years
• From LEO Space Shuttle to Moon landing: 10-29 years
• From LEO Space Shuttle to Mars landing: 17-36+ years
• Cassini to Europa Jupiter System Mission: ~10 years

Where did the ambition go?! Maybe I will help re-inject some this summer.