Thought Exercise: Dinosaurs never went extinct, became dominant species. How expensive would it be to send dino Neil Armstrong to the moon?

— Political Math (@politicalmath) April 3, 2015

@politicalmath Have to specify species. They come in different sizes. Also, do we have to bring him back?

— Rand Simberg (@Rand_Simberg) April 3, 2015

@Rand_Simberg OF COURSE YOU HAVE TO BRING HIM BACK! YOU CAN'T JUST LEAVE A DINOSAUR ON THE MOON!

— Political Math (@politicalmath) April 3, 2015

@politicalmath Well, you just made the problem a lot harder.

— Rand Simberg (@Rand_Simberg) April 3, 2015

@politicalmath Who are you to say I can't leave a dinosaur on the moon? There's nothing about it in the Outer Space Treaty

— Rand Simberg (@Rand_Simberg) April 3, 2015

@politicalmath Anyway, the answer is "yes," but you couldn't do it in a single launch. Dinosaur to orbit first, then propellant separately.

— Rand Simberg (@Rand_Simberg) April 3, 2015

@politicalmath Do you want to know total program cost, average cost, or marginal cost? How many lunar dinosaur missions are we talking here?

— Rand Simberg (@Rand_Simberg) April 3, 2015

@Rand_Simberg I'm assuming a single mission, no research costs. Cost of materials / life support based on modern day human-based prices.

— Political Math (@politicalmath) April 3, 2015

@politicalmath Life-support costs would depend on whether or not you think dinosaurs are warm blooded.

— Rand Simberg (@Rand_Simberg) April 3, 2015

Anyone want to take a WAG at it?