I’ve enjoyed Spudis’s view of things for several years now; he spoke eloquently during the Aldridge Commission hearings shortly after the “new vision” was announced. I had the chance to meet him in 2002 (as I recall) while he was still in Houston; he took me down to the library and showed me some of the old Apollo photos taken from the command module, of just little stripes of the Moon, but with incredible resolution, absolutely speckled with craters down to 1 meter or so. Incredible pictures.

More from Spudis’ Washington Post article:

The moon is important for three reasons: science, inspiration and resources. All three are directly served by the new lunar return architecture. This program has the potential to make significant contributions to our national economy and welfare.

[...] The history of our corner of the solar system for the past 4 billion years is preserved and readable in the ancient dust of the lunar surface. This record is lost on the dynamic and ever-changing surface of Earth. [...]

The moon is a stable platform to observe the universe. Its far side is the only known place in the solar system permanently shielded from Earth’s radio noise. That allows observation of the sky at radio wavelengths never before seen. [...]

The moon is close in space (only three days away) yet a separate world filled with mysteries, landscapes and treasures. [...]

[...] With its resources and proximity to Earth, the moon is a natural logistics and supply base, an offshore island of useful commodities for use there, in space and ultimately back on Earth.

[...]

The moon’s slow rotation, unclouded skies and abundant local materials make it possible to build installations specifically designed to harvest solar energy there. Solar power, collected on the moon and beamed to Earth and throughout the space between the two, can provide a clean and reliable energy source not only for space-based applications but ultimately for users on Earth as well.

[...]
To become a multiplanet species, we must master the skills of extracting local resources, build our capability to journey and explore in hostile regions, and create new reservoirs of human culture and experience. That long journey begins on the moon — the staging ground, supply station and classroom for our voyage into the universe.