Will China be the next country to reach the moon? Can Americans get back there first? And should we even care?
An article from the March 16th issue of the Washington Post describes issues that were discussed at the latest NASA budget hearings in Washington. NASA Administrator Michael Griffin told a House Committe that China could reach the moon in the next 10 years whereas it would take NASA until at least 2019 to return to the moon. Griffin said, that "yes, they could get to the moon before we return."
We have already competed in one Space Race, back in the 50s, 60s, and 70s. The USSR won the rounds involving getting a satellite and human into space, and we won the round involving landing on the moon. Not long after that, Americans seemed to grow tired from "routine" missions to the moon and the USSR had bigger issues to deal with back on terra firma. The race seemed to sputter to an end.
Now, with China entering the arena, the US has a competitor once again. And China is a formiddable opponent. They may not have the experience that Americans have, but they have the numbers. The Chinese space program is 200,000 people strong, while America's is about 75,000 members strong. And China, not being a democracy, does not have to win approval and funding for its plans. If it wishes to do something, it will designate the money and manpower to get it done. NASA is assigned incredible and lofty goals but it's given an unrealistic budget that, at worst, could lead to tragic consequences.
The benefit of competing in an arena such as space is that it encourages a common goal, enthusiasm, a pooling of resources, innovative breakthroughs, and can provide a healthy outlet for conflicting countries. No wars are being fought, and the knowledge gained through space exploration often has practical benefits on earth as well.
The problem with competing over who is the next human on the moon takes away from the fact that it is simply that: a human on the moon. An inhabitant of our world, taking a step onto another world, a precursor for our entry into the solar system or galaxy at large. We may be divided on Earth, but in the greater scheme of things we are united as Earthlings. If we truly hope to one day be a species that evolves beyond Earth, in the end it will not be competition that allows us to continue and thrive beyond our Earthly bounds, it will be our cooperation as a species and the support of each other and ability to work together for the benefit of all mankind.
