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USA Could Lose New Moon Race
Sydney, Australia (SPX) May 18, 2009 The USA could lose a new "race to the Moon" with China, according to a space analyst. Dr Morris Jones, an Australian writer and space analyst, claims that America is losing its strategic lead in spaceflight. He claims that a rapidly advancing Chinese space program will soon have the capability to send Chinese astronauts to the Moon. In his latest book, "The New Moon Race" (Rosenberg Publishing, Australia), Jones outlines the steady development of spaceflight trends around the world, and spotlights the growing strength of Asian space programs. "China, India and Japan have all launched robot spacecraft to the Moon," he explains. "China has been launching astronauts into space since 2003, and India will be launching her own astronauts in a few years." China performed its first spacewalk in 2008, on the Shenzhou 7 space mission. The nation placed a satellite in orbit around the Moon in 2007 and is preparing to launch a second unmanned lunar mission within two years. China is also planning a robot landing that will deploy a rover on the surface, and a lunar sample-return mission before 2020. India's first robot lunar mission was launched in 2008. The nation plans to land a rover on the Moon around 2012, and hopes to launch two Indian astronauts on board and Indian spacecraft by 2015. China and India have both expressed interest in sending astronauts to the Moon. Former NASA Administrator Michael Griffin has spoken of the possibility a Chinese manned lunar mission by 2016. The USA is hoping to develop a new spacecraft, dubbed Orion, which will replace the ageing Space Shuttle. It was originally expected that Orion would carry US astronauts back to the Moon by 2020. But recent budgetary cutbacks at NASA, and a review of spaceflight by the Obama administration, are in danger of cancelling America's return to the Moon. "If America's space program stumbles, the Chinese will see an opportunity to take the lead", warns Dr Jones. "The first Chinese manned mission to the Moon will probably not land astronauts there", he adds. "Instead, they will probably fly around the far side of the Moon and return to Earth." China could land astronauts on the Moon with its own spacecraft at some time after 2020. NOTE TO JOURNALISTS: Dr Morris Jones is available for interviews. Contact [email protected]. Graphics and review copies available upon request to the author. ROSENBERG PUBLISHING: Phone (61-2) 9654 1502 Fax (61-2)9654 1338 Web: rosenbergpub.com.au PO Box 6125 Dural Delivery Centre, NSW 2158 Australia Share This Article With Planet Earth
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Lawmakers To Honor Space PioneersWashington DC (SPX) May 08, 2009 This coming July 20 marks the 40th anniversary of men first landing on another celestial body. And in looking back at this historic time, lawmakers from the state that's home to Kennedy Space Center ( KSC ) want the nation to honor two major firsts from the early days of America's space program, starting with the lunar landing. Florida's two U.S. senators, joined by three of their House co ... read more |
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