[Yamaki]

It helps but there are still quite a few issues to resolve before we colonize either the moon or Mars.

1. The deleterious effects of low to zero gravity on the human body over time.
2. Shielding habitats from cosmic radiation. Building traditional shielding ain't hard...it's getting that shielding out of Earth's gravity well. Alternatives? They are working on it.
3. Providing other resources needed to support a colony where no resources exist. Again, getting those resources to space may prove to be cost prohibitive. Let's all go mine asteroids, shall we?

There are still a myriad of problems no one has the solution to...yet. Even though the human race slowed the pace of exploration, it can't be blamed on us not wanting to keep going. Rather, the obstacles transcended man's technology, ability and resources at the time. And they still do.