China Plans to Send Probe to Moon***China's communist government has poured huge resources into making the nation a force in space. In addition to its scientific benefits, lunar exploration has an ``immeasurable usefulness to raising national prestige and inspiring the nationalistic spirit,'' Xinhua said. ***
Pentagon Report Calls for the United States Control of Space-- U.S. Armed Forces are dedicated to protect and advance American interests, on a national and global basis, and if necessary, to decisively defeat threats to those interests. The QDR notes that "enduring national interests" include protection of critical U.S. infrastructure. Furthermore, part of the country's economic well being includes "security of international sea, air, and space, and information lines of communication."
China Announces 2005 Space Plans --Say space arms race has begun
Manned space-flight isn't worth the cost. The technologic barriers are just to great, and the payoffs to small. We are more than forty years into the space age and haven't had one manned flight to Mars or any other planet in the solar system. The cost to do so now would be outragous now and the dangers unwarranted for such an undertaking(ex.lost of two Mars probes). Our world is in a mess, so why engage in such flights of fancy.
Take steps now to ensure the survival of life on this planet before thinking of spaces between planets or stars.