Race to put a [hu]man on Mars -or- Meandering pontifications on international stress relief

[champu 1]

Another thread got me thinking about this, and I thought it might make for an interesting discussion. I wasn't around for the race to the moon with the Soviet Union in the '60s, but I might just be around for the next such event. I would like to hear about any positives and negatives you can think of regarding such an undertaking.

I think eccentric scientific and industrial competitions are an awesome way to avoid the build up of international stresses that might otherwise result in warfare. What better way to relieve any superiority animosity between two nations than through something that, no matter who wins, advances the human race?

[Zing 2]

Unfortunately, the next race to establish a manned colony on the Moon, or Mars, will most likely be against the Chinese.
There is growing evidence that China (and the US, for that matter) are already developing, have already developed, ways to weaponize outer space.
Recently, like several months ago, the Chinese space program demonstrated their ability to "kill" a satellite in orbit.
I read a space blog article that hinted that China not only intended to dramatically demonstrate their new satellite killer technology to the Western powers, but to also contaminate a particular altitude with thousands of bits of space debris.
With that much additional junk whizzing around, along with all the other junk stuff in orbit, the Chinese have effectively eliminated that altitude for future orbital platforms.
The race is already begun.

Zing Lurks

[skydyvr 0]

Well I was around in '69 to see the 1st moon landing, and it was so very cool. I remember where I was, who was there with me, the furniture in the room and what we ate, along with the amazing footage.

But the next space-race might not be so charming, given the efforts by countries to militarize space, and as was mentioned the potential to accidently or purposefully trash up space. Major future risk.

I hope the US and China can both end up doing the right things with the technology that is being developed today, else we are all in dire straits damn soon.

. . =(_8^(1)