[John H K]

I am sad for America. We lost the edge and mired ourselves in socialism, free trade, wasteful bureaurcracy, and a war on terror. Our greatness has been squandered and will take decades to rebuild it, if that is even possible.

What "edge" is lost?

We could orbit dozens a people a year in a tin can capsule in a few months if we wanted to, which, we don't because it's pointless(as this Chinese mission is, and all of their manned missions for a decade, will be absolutely useless in all practical military, economic, and scientific terms.)

Heck, even our own manned program (the Space Shuttle) really has set us back in space.

If we'd not had the Shuttle program (and that Godawful space station) at all, and spent the money on our unmanned programs, we'd be a lot further ahead militarily and scientifically in space, for sure.

[maui_hawaii]

I tend to agree with you on this post actually.

The US is working on planes that can load up with tourists, fly at mach 10, orbit the earth a few times, and come back and land at home.

Just going just to get there isn't really helpful. Our space program has largely turned to a venture to make money. Its not some big national pride thing anymore. That and the military applications...

In short, our space program has to be practical, not just a money vaccum.

[maui_hawaii]

With that being said, China most DEFINATELY 'borrowed' the technology to get this done. With Russia, they were willing to openly play ball. With the US, they targeted a long list...

[Monty22]

The 'money saved' would've gone to entitlement programs and you know it. At least with manned space there's some results and something to be proud of.