We in the USA shouldn't lose hope: we overcame the Apollo 1 disaster in January, 1967, didn't fly again until October, 1968, and were on the Moon by July, 1969. We've overcome challenges before but I will admit that we are lacking the sense of urgency we had back then, too.
I don't think it especially matters who gets a flag there first. After all, the US has had one there for 57 years. What matters in the long term is who has a sustainable plan for the years afterwards.
Just curious, are you optimistic about the possibility of different nations getting along on the Moon? Personally, I don’t see all-out war as inevitable, but I do see the future space powers carving up the Moon like a proverbial pie.
I think it is unlikely we will see any conflict on the Moon any time soon, though it might form a part of tensions/conflicts back on Earth. The best case would be some kind of treaty like we have in Antarctica. If it turns out there is more to gain from the Moon than science, though, I think some kind of tension is inevitable in the long run.
We in the USA shouldn't lose hope: we overcame the Apollo 1 disaster in January, 1967, didn't fly again until October, 1968, and were on the Moon by July, 1969. We've overcome challenges before but I will admit that we are lacking the sense of urgency we had back then, too.
I don't think it especially matters who gets a flag there first. After all, the US has had one there for 57 years. What matters in the long term is who has a sustainable plan for the years afterwards.
Just curious, are you optimistic about the possibility of different nations getting along on the Moon? Personally, I don’t see all-out war as inevitable, but I do see the future space powers carving up the Moon like a proverbial pie.
I think it is unlikely we will see any conflict on the Moon any time soon, though it might form a part of tensions/conflicts back on Earth. The best case would be some kind of treaty like we have in Antarctica. If it turns out there is more to gain from the Moon than science, though, I think some kind of tension is inevitable in the long run.