Space Forum / Shuttle / April 2008

By Tom Foreman
CNN Washington Bureau
4/26/2008

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- One issue the presidential candidates are not saying
much about is space exploration. But some scientists, military experts
and intelligence analysts say the next president may well determine
whether America keeps an edge in space.

Last year, the United States managed 16 space launches; Russia had 22;
China blasted off 10.

China's exploding economy is paying for the education of hundreds of
thousands of engineers each year, they are acquiring less space
technology from other nations and developing more of their own, and they
appear committed to dominating the heavens.

Their space program is still behind, says Robert Zubring, one of
America's strongest proponents for Mars travel, but it is rocketing.

"And we're standing still. If we continue to stand still, by the middle
of the next decade, their space program will be superior to ours and
they'll be moving on to the moon and Mars, while we're ... looking back
on our former greatness," he said.

Cut!

All three major presidential candidates -- Sens. Barack Obama, Hillary
Clinton and John McCain -- say space is important, but none is strongly
talking about a timeline for the moon or Mars. And certainly, there are
other pressing issues: the war and the economy.

But there is genuine and growing fear among some scientists that if
space does not become a higher priority, the Chinese program will be on
par with America's by the end of the next president's second term. Then,
it will be a real race to Mars even if we want to join in.

http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/04/26/space.race/index.html