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The New Space Race
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by Ivan Esquivel | May 6, 2009 at 12:01 am
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It can be argued that the United States won the first real space race, but who will win the second race? and how will history determine the new winner?
lets admit it, at this time NASA is not at its prime. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration may still be considered to be the best on Earth, but nations like China and India are hot on its tail. Lets talk about China's space agency the soon to be prime challenger to NASA.
Though China has a very long history involving space and astronomy, their space administration; the CNSA China National Space Administration is still in its infancy. Officially established in 1993 they have done what you would expect from a young child, grow very quickly. And though we call them Taikonauts which sounds like a special edition lego toy, and their logo looks oddly similar to Star Trek's logo, we should expect big things from the CNSA.
Like the Soviet Union attempted with the Mir Space Station, China will also attempt to create an independant Earth orbiting space staion. The first launch is scheduled to take place no later than 2011. China has also announced to land on Luna no later than 2020.
Will these events get NASA moving and will they spark interest in American children like Sputnik in the 1950's and 60's? Or will it bring the downfall of a once untouchable space administration?
Though I dont see a bright future for the proposed Chinese space station, it might just be operational long enough for us to see a red flag on Luna's surface waving in solar wind instead of the star and stipes.
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Ivan Esquivel
Carson, California, United States
Most RecentMost Recommended Comments (4)
at 04:54 on May 6th, 2009
I have one question.... Who owns the moon?
at 04:56 on May 6th, 2009
It is too bad that it has to be one or the other. Wouldn't it be nice if "Earthlings" explored space together? Until we do, I don't think we are ready.
(OK maybe I had another question).
at 08:16 on May 6th, 2009
No one actually "owns" the moon. The Outer Space Treaty states, in Article II, that:
"Outer space, including the moon and other celestial bodies, is not subject to national appropriation by claim of sovereignty, by means of use or occupation, or by any other means."
And, there's also the Moon Treaty. Article 11:
"The moon is not subject to national appropriation by any claim of sovereignty, by means of use or occupation, or by any other means."
I'd post links to my source, but the spam filter always blocks it as spam. You could find them on Wikisource by searching for "Outer Space Treaty of 1967" and "Moon Treaty."
at 13:50 on May 6th, 2009
Zachary is correct no one owns Luna, but lets be real, nations will take land and call it there own. Same as Antarctica does not belong to anyone, yet we have military units from many country's there. Once some sort of important resource is discovered, it will belong to people or nations.