Study Shows Further U.S. Competitive Decline in Space

Parabolic Arc ^ | August 2, 2012 | Doug Messier

[Cincinatus' Wife]

The United States remains the top dog in space, but it is losing its competitive advantage as the nation’s space program undergoes a series of major transitions while other nations, in particular China, improve their space capabilities.

So says Futron’s 2012 Space Competitiveness Index, which was released on Wednesday. It’s the fifth anniversary edition of the report, and the fifth year in a row in which Futron has documented America’s declining lead in space.

What a fun read.

Perhaps to offset that depressingly familiar conclusion, Futron has spiced up the report by adding five emerging space powers to the 10 nations it normally analyzes. The additions include Argentina, Australia, Iran, South Africa and Ukraine. They join the usual suspects: United States, Europe, Russia, China, Japan, Canada, India, Brazil, Israel and South Korea.

.....The United States remains the overall leader in space competitiveness, but its relative position has declined for the fifth straight year, as other countries enhance their capabilities while the U.S. undergoes major transitions amid significant uncertainty.

....China performed a record number of launches in 2012, surpassing the United States for the first time, while increasing investment in technical education programs and civilian research institutes.

.....Iran has made faster progress than any other newly emergent space nation. The tenor of Iran’s space program—civilian or military—will hinge on geopolitics. Other international actors have substantial power to influence the future focus of the Iranian space program....

[Impy]

We need a new cold war.

[Colonel Kangaroo]

Eisenhower had the right idea about space exploration:

"I'd like to know what's on the other side of the moon, but I won't pay to find out this year!"

[Wonder Warthog]

"You let me know when that “private” launch company turns a profit. To date it’s received close to $800M from NASA and the DoD."

Which one?? There are several. And yes, some are getting federal money. That is a VERY old and tried US way of getting nationally useful projects "off the ground" (no pun intended) without having the government in direct operational control...see, for example, scientific exploration (Lewis and Clark), railroads, powered flight, and many many many others.

[Wonder Warthog]

"You let me know when that “private” launch company turns a profit. To date it’s received close to $800M from NASA and the DoD."

Which one?? There are several. And yes, some are getting federal money. That is a VERY old and tried US way of getting nationally useful projects "off the ground" (no pun intended) without having the government in direct operational control...see, for example, scientific exploration (Lewis and Clark), railroads, powered flight, and many many many others.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

“Useful?”

I’m concerned about national security and our strength as a nation. The perception (and reality) is that we have walked away from space.

Launching payloads to LEO isn’t going to cut it. A lot of countries do that.

[Vision]

Study Shows Further U.S. Competitive Decline in Space

Yea but, how successful are other countries space programs in connecting with Muslims?

[Wonder Warthog]

"I’m concerned about national security and our strength as a nation. The perception (and reality) is that we have walked away from space."

I think you'll find that the military efforts have not been curtailed significantly, though Obama might dearly wish to. There are still enough "strong defense" Democrats that ally with Republicans to keep that going.

That may change if he wins the next term. If he loses, I think you'll see a significant turnaround in the status of civilian efforts.

"Launching payloads to LEO isn’t going to cut it. A lot of countries do that."

Launching payloads to LEO ECONOMICALLY is THE absolute necessity to all the rest of space for ALL operations, both civilian AND military. The private efforts in the US are still the best bet for that to happen. It was never going to happen with NASA in charge....it lost it's mojo long ago.

[lentulusgracchus]

Off-axis snark fail.

This is your only notice.

Thanks for caring. You can still reply to what I actually posted.

Meanwhile, Barnum is still a cynical schmuck, and always will be, and will never, but never, deserve the admiration of the American People. Period. End subject.

[sam_paine]

Barnum was a successful businessman, and always will be, and will never, but never, need “admiration.” He wasn’t Sally Field. Period. End subject.

Apparently you’ve never actually dealt with anyone personally in sales or marketing.