US May Start Lagging Behind Russia, China in Space Exploration

Currently, only two nations are capable of putting humans into space and the United States is not one of them, former NASA astronaut Leroy Chiao and Elliot Pulham, CEO of the Space Foundation, noted, adding that the US leadership in space exploration "has eroded" and Washington does not seem to be too concerned with it.

Figures and policies back their assertions. For instance, the US produces less than 20 percent of all satellites in the world. Fifteen years ago America's share of the global satellite manufacturing amounted to 75 percent

The experts are convinced that Russia, China and other nations "will go to the Moon, with or without us." And should the US dismiss missions to the Earth's only satellite as irrelevant because it has already done it, Washington's global standing will be affected .... http://sputniknews.com