Yesterday, in a Twitter town hall meeting (which shows that this president knows how to feel the pulse of the people) President Obama spoke his mind on the current state of National Aeronautics and Space Administration.

“We’re still using the same models for space travel that we used with the Apollo program, 30, 40 years ago. And so what we’ve said is: Rather than keep on doing the same thing, let’s invest in basic research around new technologies that can get us places faster, allow human spaceflight to last longer.”

While defining new goals for the program as Mars with a pit stop on an asteroid may be a little vague, the President has made an extremely valid point. NASA, like most Government bodies, survives on ancient tech, and probably more than most. Space Shuttle Atlantis, scheduled to launch July 8, 2011, had its initial contract awarded in 1979 and was first launched in 1985, less than four months after I was born. While the International Space Station is no slouch launch target, it’s short sighted.

Of course, my advanced degree in Bloggerology permits me the freedom to make these – and the following – statements. While surviving in the depths of space (even the shallow ones) is a noble goal, I believe we’ve long surpassed the knowledge necessary to travel further. It’s not an easy plan, but I think if we plan this properly, further travel can be achieved.

Step 1: Popular Support

In order to advance in this fight, the first thing that needs to be accomplished is to gather the American public behind the cause. Without Americans caring, NASA will be relegated to monitoring our astronauts going up on foreign rockets. We need to be reminded of the Glory Days of NASA. The days when the major R&D in the USA came from the Government, not the private sector.

The Science Channel has the right idea, as does NASA, in running #NASAtweetup. They’re garnering interest in the space program by using the emotions of the last flight to round up supporters.

Step 2: To the Moon!

Why the Moon? Because we’ve done it. We know what’s there, and it’d make good practice. We can practice building a base of operations, within range of a rescue squad. Not only can we use it for research and practice, but eventually, it could turn a profit.

The first pieces of the station should be designed to be left on the surface, forming the first pieces of the base. After that, a shuttle service wouldn’t too far out of reach. By the time we’ve mastered the art of lifting large chunks of space habitat, we should have a handle on relatively cheap planet departing techniques.

Once the station has fulfilled its initial purpose, it can be turned over to mining exploration companies, or as a tourist attraction. As lame as that sounds, it’s got potential. Don’t forget that this will be many years in the future, and no one knows what’s gonna happen.