Analysts Say China Poised to Become Leader in Space

21 April 2010

The space shuttle Discovery">Discovery touches down on Kennedy Space Center's Runway 33 in Cape Canaveral, Florida, 20 Apr 2010

More than four decades ago, the United States won the race to the Moon with the Soviet Union. But today, experts say changes to the U.S. policy could open the door for new leaders in space.

Astronauts on board the U.S. space shuttle

Discovery

returned to Earth this week amid major changes for America's space program.

President Barack Obama is calling on private companies, not the national space agency NASA, to carry astronauts into orbit. His plan also ends a government program to return to the Moon.

"Now, I understand that some believe that we should attempt a [manned] return to the surface of the Moon first, as previously planned," said Mr. Obama. "But I just have to say pretty bluntly here: We've been there before."

But, other countries have not. Critics of Mr. Obama's plan say not returning to the Moon could jeopardize America's leadership in space exploration.

"So what happens when China is able to do that, and worse, what happens when the United States may not be able to for quite a while?," said Dean Cheng, an expert on Chinese political and security affairs at The Heritage Foundation here in Washington.

"There isn't a direct threat at work here. People aren't talking about setting up Moon bases and throwing rocks at Earth, for example," he said. "But what it is, is it's a matter of national morale, national psyche, and a statement about where each country is on the technological development side."