New Moon Race?

[radarredux]

When Pres. Bush unveiled the VSE, he declared it a journey, not a race. The slower timeline to reaching the Moon for this attempt versus the 1960s effort reflected the "not a race" mentality.<br /><br />But there seems to be increasing chatter among other space participants about their desires to land on the moon. Is this going to be a 3-way race?<br /><br />China Hopes To Men On The Moon Within 15 Years<br />SpaceDaily.com<br />http://www.spacedaily.com/news/dragonspace-05c.html<br /><br />Russian Space Official Urges Government to Support Moon Landing Project<br />MosNews<br />http://www.mosnews.com/news/2005/11/24/moon.shtml

 

[trailrider]

Unfortunately, Americans (and I am proud to be one!) only seem to get behind great projects when we are threatened or our pride is at stake! <img src="/images/icons/frown.gif" /> <br /><br />Unfortunately, I don't see the progress China has made is sparking much interest in the American public. Perhaps if they dump a large payload of red paint in Mare Imbrium, so it can be seen from Earth, we'd wake up!<br /><br />Or, MAYBE we can get kids interested in space exploration and sciences & engineering IF we can get into the schools with talks, etc. That's what I'm trying to do, but I'm only one person!<br /><br />Ad Luna! Ad Aries! Ad Astra!<br />

 

[bwhite]

Perhaps we need an American billionaire to help the Russians frighten us.

 

[kane007]

More the merrier I say!

 

[askold]

After that, let's have a race to the top of Mt. Everest. Or the North Pole.<br /><br />Yawn ....

 

[lampblack]

Competition is good for the soul. Let 'em have at it! <img src="/images/icons/wink.gif" /><br /><br />Without competition, we tend to get lazy and do things half-way. I agree with Kane: the more, the merrier!<br /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <font color="#0000ff"><strong>Just tell the truth and let the chips fall...</strong></font> </div>

 

[mattblack]

New Moon Race? We can but hope. And when all the participants use modules and capsules, watch certain individuals (NO names) tantrum themselves into a coronary, because the U.S. isn't doing it with lifting bodies... <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p> </p><p>One Percent of Federal Funding For Space: America <strong><em><u>CAN</u></em></strong> Afford it!!  LEO is a <strong><em>Prison</em></strong> -- It's time for a <em><strong>JAILBREAK</strong></em>!!</p> </div>

 

[blackened27]

<blockquote><font class="small">In reply to:</font><hr /><p> Or, MAYBE we can get kids interested in space exploration and sciences & engineering IF we can get into the schools with talks, etc. <p><hr /></p></p></blockquote><br />A strong, vigorous manned space program has a good chance of getting children and young adults very interested in all things space. One can argue all day about the scientific benefits a new moon program will bestow, but it most certainly will have a large cultural effect. It has the potential to awaken the younger, jaded generations to come. Wether that new rekindled interest comes to anything will depend on how savy NASA can be in channeling it to new, daring projects in the years to come.

 

[bad_drawing]

Fantastic... As has been pointed out by many others here, competition is good. I know analogy is a weak form of reasoning, but I think of the U.S. carmakers in the 80s. Sure they were still building cars without fierce competition...but they we're for the most part unreliable, unimpressive, and not innovative. Enter the Japanese automakers and Voila.... <br /><br />The thought of a red flag on the moon (be it Soviet or Chinese) has always and will continue to motivate the movers and shakers in the U.S. gov. I say great! If we're competeting with China, (or even Japan, India, Russia...and more if they can do it) to get [back] to the moon then we'll all benefit. Plus if we get "beat", the world still has gained something IMHO. I'd much rather have a race of national pride with HLVs and spacecraft than a race of WMDs. <br />