Next Gen News

figures of the U.S. space community

such as Neil Armstrong is concerned that NASA is behind on the launch pad

After beating the Soviets and win the race to land a man on the moon in 1969, the United States has experienced more than four decades without reply as the dominant force in the world in space . Thursday the launch of the first stage of a new Chinese space station could be considered the beginning of a change of power.

that China joined the United States and Russia as the third country with the ability of a permanent presence in space crew is not in itself a major challenge for American supremacy. NASA launched its first space research laboratory, Skylab, in 1973, and although China Tiangong-1 is kept safely in orbit after its arrival, it is likely that at least another year before the astronauts are able to make any long-acting OF STAY.

The broader concern of those who follow the American space program is the opposite for the two nations seem to take to support its ambitions in space.

China, which has invested millions of dollars in recent years in a nascent space program, is now a signature piece of hardware and off the launch pad. NASA currently has no ability to launch manned their own vehicles for the crew after the retirement of the space shuttle fleet this summer.

is a situation that irritates the personalities of the U.S. space community, including Neil Armstrong, first man on the moon, who last week criticized the U.S. program as a nuisance that may soon be overshadowed by the achievements of other nations.

did earlier this month, announced his vision of a spacecraft, space launch system, which will be the most powerful rocket ever built and is designed to astronauts in space more than ever. The cost, estimated to calculations by NASA flight of more than $ 62 billion over the next 15 years, however, could be an obstacle and the first manned test flight is not expected until 2017.