NASA is pretty tight, therefore we should allocate 40 billion to NASA and its ORION project. Lots of jobs, incredible research and an educational opportunity, did I mention jobs? I know "kick starting the economy" gets our sphincters in a bunch and our hearts racing. So lets all be like... "NASA, I mean damn its pretty tight". Thank you.
PS It may seem that 40 billion is an arbitrary number, that's because it is. Sure as hell beats 17.8 billion.
PSS Really? bringing an asteroid back to lunar orbit, and just going back to the moon? This is NASA, not a conversation between two drunks.