Well, a lot of people really do have wrong expectations regarding the Chinese space program. China is the third nation ins pace. Yes. But this is neither a threat, nor won't they go to the moon in any forseeable timeframe. And they don't even seriously intend to got to the moon before 2024, at the very earliest, which is nothing more than lip service anyway. The Chinses space program is not in a shape at all although many (uninformed) people do think it is. They have done only three manned flights within a decade, which was nothing more than test flights for now. Their next flight is not going to happen before 2011, which will be a gap between that last flight and the proposed flight of 3 years. For now their progress is way too slow to indicate any amazing steps in space. In fact, it is just political propaganda to show the rest of the world that the Middle Kingdom now does space flight as well. But they'll soon start to learn that not only on ground, but also in space working together is essential these days to keep manned space programs alive in the long term.
We should bear in mind that if ESA, NASA and Roscosmos don't go the moon because of no budget and missing innovations, nobody else won't go as well anyway. Less than ever China or India. Without international teamwork or at least a little teamwork, nobody will go to the moon alone anymore. Because any smart politician and sponsor knows that those footstep and flag demos are are nothing more than unnecessary propaganda. That the USA did go to the moon was a historic luck, a real luck that was based only on exactly one political reason and decision. A reason that is not given anymore at all. And nobody has the money anyway. We do it either together, or not at all. Low earth orbit might be possible for single nations and commercial space flight programs. But going to the moon and further, manned, is just too big for a single nation to achive in a useful way. The days of big governmental maverick space programs are over.
Also, I'm glad they, NASA and the gov., don't extend the shuttle flights. The program has prevented too much already. Modernizing the Kennedy Space Center and make it ready for commercial use will be a real gain for manned space flight technologies and progress. Now that's a real fine decision in my humble point of view. A few days ago I still thought Obama would let die manned space flight. But in fact he actually acts in a very smart way I have to say. I was judging too fast and to biased on him. But he and Bolden are doing fine with NASA now. After all, NASA gets more money and the chance to do much wiser things than just make a few new footsteps and flags on the lunar surface until there will be a dead horse once again. It's the first time NASA is entering a real long term program, not just a "big show". NASA is "the" space agency. I mean it really is "the" space agency on this planet. The manned part of NASA only makes a small part of the science NASA does. And they now get more money to do more earth sciences and even commercial space flight in future. Nobody competes NASA. Less then ever a single program like Shenzhou, which did not do any science for now, neither on ground nor in space. NASA is a real scientific body the USA can be really proud of. The gain of NASAs overall work and progress is unbeatable, even without manned flights! Americans do not have to fear the little Chinese program at all
Nobody has to.
