China May Win New Space Race, NASA Says

[Purveyor]

(10-03) 08:23 PDT Cape Canaveral, Fla. (AP) --

The Soviets beat the United States at getting a satellite, and a man, into space. Now, the Chinese may get to the moon before the U.S. can make a return visit.

Fifty years after Sputnik became the world's first artificial satellite, a new race is under way with the finish line on the moon. NASA, the former lunar champion, already is predicting defeat.

"I personally believe that China will be back on the moon before we are," NASA Administrator Michael Griffin said in a low-key lecture in Washington two weeks ago, marking the space agency's 50th anniversary, still a year away.

"I think when that happens, Americans will not like it. But they will just have to not like it."

Griffin's candor startled many in the space community, but insiders acknowledge the reality. China has pulled off two manned spaceflights with its own rockets and is eager to head for the moon.

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http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2007/10/03/national/a082354D91.DTL

[BushOut06]

1. Good for them

The last thing we need to do is get into another one of these "my penis is bigger than yours" type of races. I don't mind going back to the moon - but we don't need to bankrupt ourselves trying to beat China or anyone else to it.

[lovuian]

2. America could go to the Moon in 1960's and now can't

something is wrong...maybe there is a reason why america is saying China go ahead??? Makes ya wonder doesn't it

http://youtube.com/watch?v=79ipvNKwr7E

http://youtube.com/watch?v=7FbELD3aFrU