Asian Moon race?

Will the Chinese indeed establish a lunar base within three to four years? At this point it sounds as if it is a matter of when, not if, at least according to Robert Walker, former chairman of the House Science Committee. Japan and India apparently are ready to join the race as well.

If this all does come to pass, I wonder if it will have a similar impact on the US to that of Sputnik. And I'm sure the Chinese are not indifferent to the potential irony of a triumphant 21st-century reversal of the European expansionism of the 15th, when China turned inwards and left even its own backyard open to foreign traders and colonization.

Spotted via Instapundit, who will undoubtedly be following up on this at greater length shortly.

Posted by David on May 30, 2003 5:57 PM