[Moonman62]

And once someone like the Chinese or even the Brazilians puts someone in orbit for reasons other than national pride (e.q. war or money) there will be a mad scramble by the rest of the world to catch up.

But even our own military has given up on the idea that manned spaceflight is militarily advantageous. The Brazilians only interest in rockets is to get into the nuclear blackmail business. If the Chicoms ever get a man into space it will be on Russian hardware, and forty years behind schedule.

[irv]

But even our own military has given up on the idea that manned spaceflight is militarily advantageous.

They'll change their minds when they realize that a couple guys in a decent space plane or shuttle, can knock out half the satellites we have in a few days.

Or when someone brings home some minerals drilled out of asteroids, and starts shooting at anyone else who tries to do the same thing.

[King Prout]

3 words for the US Military: Lunar Mass Driver.
Tell me such a thing has no worthy military applications.