Does America care when even NASA says that China will probably beat us back to the moon?

Question

See Associated Press article on what NASA Administrator Michael Griffin has to say about this.

http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5gVFfnmIojGj7nntkH9ff70TAsYYgD8S1R9000

Oh wow, way to go, my fellow Americans. What apathy!

scientica, check up 3He to understand the importance of getting to the moon SOON before competition arrives. American ignorance about 3He on the moon is no excuse. Both China and Russia have already announced plans to join forces to go to the moon for the purpose of mining 3He.

Answer 1

I would like to see China beat us back to the moon or Mars, etc... The last time we got beat into space (Sputnik, 1957), we not only had a huge push in a space program, but also (and more importantly in my opinion) we had a huge push to modernize and improve our science and math curriculums (curriculii?)

Right now, we rank behind most developed nations in science and math (as well as geography and other subjects). While that greatly disturbs me in and of itself, and for me provides substantial motivation for us to improve, it does not seem to motivate out government (or at least it does not motivate them to throw rresources at the problem).

So, personally yes I do care about China beating us back to the moon, it there is a decent chance that it would motivate us to improve our education system, I would like China to beat us.

Interesting! I had never tought about 3He before.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helium-3
It is not so clear to me that the next country that gets there would have rights to all of the 3He though -- after all the US flag is already planted...

Answer 2

Since 1994, the GOP Congress canceled every advanced spacecraft program NASA had. They--and the Bush administration--also canceled safetyupgrades that could have saved the Columbia crew.

This administration has also canceled most of the scientific work on board the ISS, in favor of military research against "terrorists." I suppose they think Osama is going to build an orbit-capable camel or soething!

Seriously, the "neoconservatives" who currently control the GOP are known for their antipathy to science. That wil change in 2009. And--though I think it will take a couple of yyers, the gradual recognition that we are faling behind in up-to-date technology and in moving into the economic development of space (which is the real thrust of the Chinese program, plus a dozen other countries) will lead to renewed support for the space program.

So--I 'm not too worried, even about the possibility that the Chinese might beat us back to the moon. They are targeting 2024. Americans in the 1960s, with nothing like the technology we have now--did it in just 8 years. We can--and I think will--win this new space race, despite the inexcusably slow start imposed on us by the right -wing.

Answer 3

Considering that NASA has beat China to the Moon by over 38 YEARS already, I fail to see your point.

Are you insinuating that everytime a new space agency plans on sending a man to the Moon that we should send one before them just to prove that we were there in 1969?

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OH NO !!! We had better hurry up and get some 3He before the chinese and russians get it all !!!

At first, I thought this was an astronomy and space science related question. But with comments such as 'my fellow Americans' I see that it was posted as an excuse to promote hatred towards other countries and cultures.

When the Apollo astronauts were on the Moon and looked back, they were awestruck at seeing the Earth's land and seas as ONE planet.

Your ideas to promote racism and division shamefully fly in the face of the Apollo missions and space exploration as a whole.

Another's answer linking the return to the Moon with military might is deplorable.

Try posting your questions in the political categories where they belong.

Answer 4

Privatization in basic terms works while the interior maximum business enterprise makes funds. NASA expenditures billions and billions of greenbacks to run and makes 0 funds, aside from the $20 in line with person admission value tag to bypass to their museum, yet that funds specially is going to maintain the museum and pay the staff on the museum and that i think of that's run privately besides, so NASA nevertheless makes 0 funds. area holiday at this element is an entire expenditure. you may besides throw your funds out in area, that's certainly what area holiday is at this element. i'm not asserting I sense sorry approximately usa getting in area. needless to say our technologies and media satellites have improved our lives, so it grow to be completely well worth it. i'm purely asserting, i'm uncertain if going to moon or Mars is well worth it, previous bragging rights and purely asserting that we did it. in line with probability we could continually wait till technologies improves and the venture expenditures are greater much less costly. @That Virgin airplane does not count extensive variety. they are not going to the moon and that's truly in basic terms a effective airplane that is going truly severe. Virgin could be engaged on a lunar venture yet while that have been real, they're prepared to waste particularly some funds they are going to by no ability make back, no count what number passengers they'd discover. that's not even secure to bypass to area. I mean, there is particularly some cosmic radiation accessible that our earth protects us from.

Answer 5

I think America should care more about China accumulating huge wealth and military might. The days of the US being the world's superpower are numbered and they will eventually be usurped in the same way that Britain was by the US, Spain was by Britain etc.

But there's no use worrying, it's inexorable!

Answer 6

America is no longer a match for the Chinese, neither technologicaly, nor scientifically, nor financially.
Only militarilily.

America should be concerned not about beating them to heavens, but nere on Earth in everyday terristrial affairs.

Answer 7

No. Americans are more concerned about next year's Superbowl score than protecting their children's heritage from competing powers. We may have gotten there first but possession is 9/10ths of the law. We've done nothing to stake or hold onto our claims.

Answer 8

Does America care about anything anymore? Not that I've noticed. Americans have become obsessed with only one thing - money. They just can't be bothered with anything else. Thanks, Hollywood.

Answer 9

well you can't do anything about it.

Answer 10

Why should we care?