Since the beginning of the Space Age, space programs have been adjuncts of national policy rather than self-sustaining ventures in their own right. Nader Elhefnawy discusses how a shift to space resource exploitation could alter that formula, depending on national and international politics.
Sebastian Mallaby argues that it is incorrect to claim that an increase in Chinese science output is a detriment to the U.S. economy because "competition between countries, unlike companies, is a positive-sum game."
James Oberg analyzes China's civillian space program and finds that "despite Western theorizing about space challenges — a new moon race or even a military conquest of the heavens — the most plausible rationale for the Shenzhou program appears to be what Chinese leaders have always stated. They expect that it will be good for China, the Chinese people and for the ruling regime."
India's new President A. P. J. Abdul Kalam called today for India to develop nanotechnology -- including nanobots -- because it will revolutionize warfare. "This is probably the starting gun of the nano arms race. Every government will have to take this seriously," said Center for Responsible Nanotechnology Director of Research Chris Phoenix.
The recent production of the first human cloned embryo in Seoul highlighted the price the United States and other Western nations may pay for their unresolved debate over human embryonic stem cells: if they lose their technical lead, they also forfeit the chance to set the ethical rules of the game.
The author criticizes the nationalist, USA-centric rhetoric behind the Mars movement and argues for a broader perspective.
Jim Yardley looks at whats at stake for China in its historic first manned flight this week.
India is pushing ahead with its ambitious space programme while casting an envious eye at neighbouring China, which is on the verge of becoming the third nation to put a man into orbit, analysts say.
China is planning its first manned space flight that if successful will stimulate advances in the country's aerospace, computer and electronics industries and give a big propaganda boost to the current government. China is also planning to deploy its own space station and has set its sights on developing the moon. Within a decade, China's space activities may well surpass those of Russia and the European Space Agency. And if China becomes the most important space power after the U.S., an entirely new "space race" may be in the offing.
The author argues that U.S. technological leadership and "pre-eminent position as the world's sole superpower" is being eroded by increasing space power in China, Japan, and South Korea.