Energy News  
Aldrin warns US risks falling behind in space race

by Staff Writers
London (AFP) June 29, 2008
Buzz Aldrin, the second man on the moon, warned in an interview published Sunday that the United States risked falling behind Russia and China in the space race if it did not redouble its efforts.

Speaking to the Sunday Telegraph, Aldrin urged US presidential candidates John McCain and Barack Obama to "retain the vision for space exploration" and said he would lobby both to ensure they increased funding for NASA.

"If we turn our backs on the vision again, we're going to have to live in a secondary position in human space flight for the rest of the century," Aldrin was quoted as saying by the weekly.

"All the Chinese have to do is fly around the Moon and back, and they'll appear to have won the return to the Moon with humans. They could put one person on the surface of the Moon for one day and he'd be a national hero."

Aldrin warned, as well, that Russia could adapt and enlarge its Soyuz system to better accommodate space tourists, taking the lead there.

"Globalisation means many other countries are asserting themselves and trying to take over leadership," he said. "Please don't ask Americans to let others assume the leadership of human exploration."

He said he was trying to "assemble the best advice to two new candidates who are approaching election" and added that he wanted to get "in there and talk to them because it's (space exploration) so important."

Community
Email This Article
Comment On This Article

Share This Article With Planet Earth
del.icio.usdel.icio.us DiggDigg RedditReddit
YahooMyWebYahooMyWeb GoogleGoogle FacebookFacebook



Related Links
Space Tourism, Space Transport and Space Exploration News



Memory Foam Mattress Review
Newsletters :: SpaceDaily :: SpaceWar :: TerraDaily :: Energy Daily
XML Feeds :: Space News :: Earth News :: War News :: Solar Energy News


Fly Your Thesis - An Astronaut Experience
Paris, France (ESA) Jun 27, 2008
Calling all European students! ESA's Education Office is offering the flights of a lifetime with the launch of a new programme called "Fly Your Thesis! - An Astronaut Experience".







  • Analysis: Nigeria attack cripples Chevron
  • Study calls for renewable energy progress
  • UBC Physicists Develop Impossible Technique To Study And Develop Superconductors
  • Britain outlines wind farm expansion plans

  • Ohio nuclear processing plant to close
  • Britain to sign nuclear deal with energy-poor Jordan
  • Bulgaria to look at new reactors at partly shut nuclear plant
  • Australia must strengthen India ties: foreign minister

  • Air Travelers And Astronomers Could Benefit From Atmospheric Turbulence Research
  • NASA And Air Resources Board To Examine California Air Quality
  • Field Project Seeks Clues To Climate Change In Remote Atmospheric Region
  • US And UK Research Centers Launch Major Collaboration On Atmospheric Studies

  • Highway plan in Indonesia's Papua threatens forests: NGOs
  • Researchers Explain Nitrogen Paradox In Forests
  • Indonesia's haze plan praised by region
  • Tropical Forest Sustainability Could Be A Climate Change Boon

  • Kazakhstan To Introduce State Monopoly On Caviar Sales
  • UN to press G8 on food crisis, climate change, poverty
  • Japanese fishermen to go on strike over fuel costs
  • Exploited Fish Make Rapid Comeback In World's Largest No-Take Marine Reserve Network

  • Germany launches programme to develop hybrid vehicles
  • WTF... abbreviation on car plates makes Americans blush
  • Soaring steel costs to drive up car prices: Nissan CEO
  • At Toyota greenhouse, C02 emissions no villain

  • China to roll out new turboprop plane: report
  • IATA head slams EU plans to include aviation in emissions trading
  • A Plane With Wings Of Glass
  • US Airways signs code-sharing deal with Air China

  • Nuclear Power In Space - Part 2
  • Outside View: Nuclear future in space
  • Nuclear Power In Space

  • The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2007 - SpaceDaily.AFP and UPI Wire Stories are copyright Agence France-Presse and United Press International. ESA Portal Reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement,agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by SpaceDaily on any Web page published or hosted by SpaceDaily. Privacy Statement