WaPo takes a look at a recent Futron study that concludes the United States is in danger of losing its leading role in space because of increased international competition, insufficient funding, and limited public support.
“Although the United States remains dominant in most space-related fields — and owns half the military satellites currently orbiting Earth — experts say the nation’s superiority is diminishing, and many other nations are expanding their civilian and commercial space capabilities at a far faster pace,” the article states.
The always chatty NASA Administrator, Mike Griffin, is quoted several times. Griffin bemoans America’s growing lack of competitiveness, complains about his agency’s low budget, and warns about China’s “carefully though out space flight program” designed to help make that country “a strategic world power second to none.”
Continue reading ‘U.S. Facing Increased Competition; China May Beat NASA Back to the Moon’
