[Paul Ross]

We went into space with a utopian share and share alike mindset. The Chinese may mouth something similar, but they will instead be busy deploying military installations, and building linear accelerators on the moon to drop rocks on your head...

They believe they should be in control of space.

With your posture of retreat, it would basically not be a challenge for China to not just "catch-up" but surpass...then actively DENY us access to space.

I know this is too long a view for short-sighted minds to digest...but that is their view.

[RightWhale]

Space development and space exploration have little to do with science. Anyway, in spite of prophecy, the US has claimed all of outer space.

There are those who get their property tax notification today and immediately begin a rant, but never get around to going down to the tax hearings to get their assessment reduced.

There are some practical things to do, but pointing with dismay isn't one of them.

[from occupied ga]

building linear accelerators on the moon to drop rocks on your head...

Heinlein's The Moon is a Harsh Mistress is science fiction.

[agere_contra]

then actively DENY us access to space.

You nailed it. I believe that the water ice at the lunar pole will form the basis for future solar system resource development - it will be a "Panama Canal" style bottleneck for a hundred years. Consequently I would rather America owned it than the UN or the Chinese

[Spiff]

We went into space with a utopian share and share alike mindset. The Chinese may mouth something similar, but they will instead be busy deploying military installations, and building linear accelerators on the moon to drop rocks on your head... They believe they should be in control of space. With your posture of retreat, it would basically not be a challenge for China to not just "catch-up" but surpass...then actively DENY us access to space.

And if China is the first to construct a space elevator (see my previous post), we're in big trouble.