I consider this very hopeful myself. Watching China with their fledging program is as exciting as I imagine it was for the kids watching Kennedy announce a Man on the Moon was GOING to happen in the near future.

I think the U.S. and Russia have picked the low hanging fruit for the easy and safe accomplishments and NASA, at least, seems content to just about stop right here. After this point, men die and tragedy follows...from time to time. China is capable of absorbing some heart wrenching tragedys of space accidents or malfunctions and press on with barely a hestitation to their step.

Thats what we NEED to move outside Earth Orbit and the Moon. It's what I don't see America capable of stomaching and I'd even expect Americans to cry about safety and demand reforms to China's program when those inevtiable growing pains happen...but China will GET US to Mars or beyond while NASA is still bidding contracts for who may merely design something that COULD make the trip.

I hope the Founding Fathers are busy looking elsewhere for things to be mad about as I say GO CHINA! err.. uhh.. wow..did I really say that?

Wouldn't it be hilarious if they did do a maned mission to the moon and replaced the American flag with a Chinese one (if it is actually there....). Or just stake one beside it,but bigger.

Good for them, at least someone is putting in the effort for serious space exploration...too bad it's on the backs of the people......

Also, I think it's a bit naive to think that the US hasn't militarized aspects of their space program in the past. It would be foolish not to in this day and age unfortunately.