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The NASA program cannot be compared to what the Chinese did with 300 ship expeditions. Maybe that would be better compared to our expeditions in the Middle East
by draggnar 15y ago
The NASA program cannot be compared to what the Chinese did with 300 ship expeditions. Maybe that would be better compared to our expeditions in the Middle East and the military industrial complex in general, but not NASA. I agree with the comment completely about how Europe won. Maybe the commercialization of many aspects of space is the key. I for one am excited to some day travel between New York and Hong Kong in a couple hours on a Virgin Galactic flight, if such endeavors are profitable and competitive then space may lead to 500 years of thriving growth. Still though there needs to be government backing for the cutting edge, which does not need to be armadas but shouldn't be shut down completely.
- nandemo 15y agoArguably, NASA has always been part of the military industrial complex, but it's a relatively less important component now that Cold War and the space race are over. Meanwhile, overall military strength continues to be important to US hegemony.
- EREFUNDO 15y agoI completely agree. Initial government backing will be necessary. Europe eventually won because their programs of exploration and expansion continued for the next 600 years, the Chinese expeditions lasted only 30. The major reason for this is because the European model was more profitable and sustainable.