US space policy is dominated by politicians who see NASA as a way to dole out government pork to their local constituencies. As long as that doesn’t change, progress will continue to be very slow. The Chinese landing people on the moon just might be what the US need to pull their heads out of their arse and get a move on. If Trump wins, it’ll all be fucked up anyway, but so will everything else.
I’m really not convinced that China landing people on the moon would be that much of a wake up call since “we’ve been there, done that.” The moon doesn’t have nearly the same inconceivable new frontier value like it did pre-apollo.
Maybe China landing astronauts on Mars would be different, but the general public and congress seem pretty apathetic towards space exploration.
The next frontier is not going to the moon, it’s staying there and utilising the local resources. This may have huge geostrategic implications too, so you can be damn sure the Yanks will take notice if the Chinese get there first.
US space policy is dominated by politicians who see NASA as a way to dole out government pork to their local constituencies. As long as that doesn’t change, progress will continue to be very slow. The Chinese landing people on the moon just might be what the US need to pull their heads out of their arse and get a move on. If Trump wins, it’ll all be fucked up anyway, but so will everything else.
I’m really not convinced that China landing people on the moon would be that much of a wake up call since “we’ve been there, done that.” The moon doesn’t have nearly the same inconceivable new frontier value like it did pre-apollo.
Maybe China landing astronauts on Mars would be different, but the general public and congress seem pretty apathetic towards space exploration.
The next frontier is not going to the moon, it’s staying there and utilising the local resources. This may have huge geostrategic implications too, so you can be damn sure the Yanks will take notice if the Chinese get there first.