The moon base (and/or moon orbit base) isn't just cool, it would facilitate building ships in space that don't have to escape the gravity well. That and asteroid mining (to get materials for ship building) would be such a huge step to having a real presence off-planet.

Mine materials on asteroids, send them to the moon refinery and manufacturing facility, send parts up to lunar orbital ship building facility, send ships to Europa, Ganymede, etc.

Madness!!

THAT'S COMMUNISM