Next person to walk on the moon will be Chinese, says expert

[Ezechiel]

Next person to walk on the moon will be Chinese, says expert | Space, Military and Medicine | News.com.au

NEIL Armstrong's 1969 lunar landing marked a pinnacle of US technological achievement, defining what many saw as the American century, but the next person to set foot on the moon will likely be Chinese.

 

[Blabyboy]

Makes sense... going pretty much the way that Arthur C Clarke predicted in the 2/3000 series. They'll be the first on Mars as well... unless we skip and go to Europa

Bb

 

[Goggs Mackay]

It's about time China does - and I sincerely hope it forces an American re-think on the matter. Nothing like a bit of competition over moon-mining to maybe restart a space-race of sorts.

I've nothing against China but like many English-speaking people (and others), I've always felt American culture and achievement were as much mine as citizens of the US. The ubiquity of American TV and culture made it the first real world-wide culture in terms of the instant export of ideas and themes and objects. It would make me really happy to see the US back at the top of the space game and I know many people worldwide feel the same, whether they are American or not.

When we measure the cost of much of the space program against the wealth of the super-rich or the ridiculous amounts spent on needless wars etc, the space program was excellent value for money.
How can you even put a price on things like the Hubble telescope or Curiosity being on Mars now? Those things are priceless. I still get tickled pink at these hi-res phots from Mars. I mean it's like the start of something great, like Star Trek - we are actually seeing stuff nearly real-time from another planet! It's awesome beyond words and I just cannot comprehend why anyone would not be interested in this stuff.

 

[mike]

Good on em i say, Humans should be exploring offworld. If china wants to carry the flag more power to them

 

[Ezechiel]

Its about time some countries started competing with the U.S.

Ultimately what is at stake is real estate and resources beyond earth. If you're the first to plant your flag in a promising area you keep the spoils. We'll see all of this once fusion reactors are finally on line as the added mobility and autonomy will make these ventures possible and extremely profitable.

Why do you think that the next probe to mars will explore the subterranean environments ? As usual cash will be king.