We could spend on space exploration, health, education, and infrastructure just a fraction of what we spend on wars and rebuilding other nations, not to speak of all the unaccounted corruption slush funds of the pentagon, and already be on Mars.

They definitely should not receive international aid any more if they are able to have a heavy duty space program.

As the freedoms slowly grow in China so does the entrepenurial spirit. China has a long way to go but are definitely moving in the right direction. Unfortunately, the US is going in the other direction which is why we are a superpower in decline.

I think the chinese should follow suit with "Heaveans Gate" Theroy.... I hear if you catch the tail end of the "Hale-Bop Comet it's a much faster way to the stars ????

How are the Chinese going to get there? They will have to steal our technology and if we cut back on NASA who will they steal from, the Europeans?

Alan,

Have you been able to find out any additional details? I noticed that the report from Xinhua was pretty vague as well, usually they are a somewhat reliable source.

Why can't we make a world effort to get to these planets? Everyboby wants to be first, put all the money together make one big space ship and lets go. I know it aint that easy but lets go HUMAN RACE!!!!!!!!!!

One huge reason for stall and stutter in US space exploration efforts is the constant diversion of capital from civilian to military. This nation has been at war overtly and covertly since I was born and that was in times bc (before computers)! Until this huge expenditure of hundred$ of billion$ annually is curtailed and re-directed to progressive, intelligent use there will not be enough cold hard cash to fund a long term habitation project on either The Moon or Mars. All of the environmental and tech problems of living ex-ter can be soved. Too cold? We can generate heat. Too hot? We know how all about refrigeration and how to regulate air conditioning. Radiation? The ISS has solved that problem. Boots on the ground? There are legions of healthy, intelligent humans willing to leave Earth and risk all to establish colonies elsewhere in our Solar system. Sure, robots, probes, orbiters, and other electronic 'inspector gadgets' will go first as they are doing right now. Humans will follow. As Hillary said of Everest, "Because it is there." Extraordinary challenges and vast material resources await "Us" beyond the fragile envelope of Earth's atmosphere. People are going to live and die on the Hi-Frontier. We, today, have seen the first baby steps and matriculated into kindergarden. Another 10-20 years and we may get to 1st grade. But only IF vast waste and destruction of men and material via military perversion of national economies is brought to heel.

This is very troubling, is China up grading and improving their ICBMs under the guise of heavy payload and accurate launchers for moon and Mars missions? With the help of the bankrupted Russians?

Yes, the US did the same thing under the Apollo program blanket, but we were in the height of the cold war. So, what is China really upto? Do they really think they can win a nuclear war? ICBM development is purely for offensive strategical strikes so what's in China's long term plans?

I really believe that President Obama should allow STI to proceed as originally planned. The Chinese and Russians have not showed any williness to proceed to a democratic governance. So as long as you have a dictatorship regimes in both nations we cannot trust them. So I say build the defensive shields and let them spend as much as they want on obselete offensive weapons.

We have lifetime politicians running the show, who have the imigination of a slug. There only concern is staying in their plush-power. Think how a vigorous space program would stimulate the economey. What about a real high-speed train coast to coast, one that would surpass those of China, France, & Japan. I witnessed the first moon landing on black&white TV. How can this be that we stopped space expoloration. We need someone in power with some vision for the future ,rather than just covering their rear, and getting some dirt on the opposition

O.K Sweethearts.... try this on for size! In the year 2015 we end up a turning over our Space facilities to the government of China in exhange for another bailout to meet our crushing entitlement program. O.k.... so I'm a killjoy... but deep down in your heart, you know I'm right....

When the Obama administration canceled the Constellation Project to return manned American flight into deep space, it destroyed America's hard earned leadership in manned space travel. Obama did this in order to "save 10 billion dollars over ten years".  In the process, he put 30,000 of the world's finest rocket scientists and 100-150,000 of the worlds finest aerospace technicians  out of work. Further, the Administration must pay out over 9 billion in contractual guarantees and for wok already already performed. The Constellation Program involved two lift vehicles (rockets) to put an American colony on the Moon and then later on Mars. The first vehicle, Ares I had already been flight tested with a successful launch. The second, heavy lift vehicle, Ares 5, had undergone a successful engine test and was being readied for its first test launch at the time of the cancellation. 

With the final launch of the Space Shuttle nest Tuesday, America will have to hitch rides to the Space Station it built at the tune of at least 20 million dollars per astronaut. After that final launch, America will no loonger be able to visit her Space Station without Russian Approval.

Incredibly, just after he had canceled the Constellation Program, Obama began complaining that America had no heavy lift vehicles available to reach the station, and ordered research to begin into such a thing. He went on to announce a new, more important agenda then colonizing the moon or landing on Mars. Obama feels that visiting the Asteroids is far more important then either of those two goals, and that is where will eventually be headed under his insightful vision.

In the meantime, every other nation on the planet that has the ability is planning to colonize the moon and land on Mars. The discovery of usable water and Helium 3 on the Moon has made the satellite the site of the next "Gold Rush" , and no other country but America plans to be left out of claiming ownership of this potentially priceless propriety.

One only has to look at the indebtedness this man has incurred on our great grandchildren to appreciate the brilliance of our President Elect. Thank goodness we have elected this man of such budgetary discretion and incredible vision.

Our country borrows a lot of money from China. They own half of us already. So, let them go to Mars. We are already in bed with them anyway.

The most logical next step in space exploration is to build a moon base. Then develop the technology for faster space travel. We will need to go much faster to travel to other planets. Mars takes approximately 9 months. If something goes wrong, there will be no rescue. The moon is only 3 days away.

I wouldnt doubt that china, a heinous slave nation, will use the murderous subterfuge by which they steal technology, to find a way to Mars. Just remember that what China sells is counterfeit milk, bread, toothpaste filled with poisonous antifreeze and plastics. The toys they sell us are painted with lead and cadmium. China is a crimminal enterprise, supported by the largest corporations in the USA and backed by the Fox News/MSNBC traitors that under the guise of supporting god and free enterprise, they actually back monopolistic fascist regimes.

China is just making it clear that the first nation to reach Mars will not be able to claim the entire planet as their own. Just by stating that they intend to go there serves as notice that they want to be included in any territorial claims in the future. Its very much like the situation with the North Pole, Antarctica and the moon. No one nation will ever be able to claim the red planet as soverign property.