I think a new space race wouldnt be very productive. Although youa re right that it stimulates advances, if both sides work together more can be achieved.
Look at the ISS, its far too expensive for one country to build alone, however with international cooperation it can be built, with scientific advances being made because of it.
Quote:
|
out of the space program came innovations that people take for granted. Printed circuit boards, cyrogenic treating of metals (used now extensively in tools), advance aluminum fabrication techniques (used everywhere from soda cans to new cars), etc...
|
At this point I would mention the million dollar gas-propelled pen designed by Nasa to write in space. I would also mention the pencil the Russians took
Its probably urban myth but its a nice story...
Perhaps cooperation would have pervented Nasa spending millions on producing it. Millions that they could then donate to FIRST teams... well maybe not.
Getting vaguely back to the orignal point of the thread, i think that there is a possibility of a non-governmental manned space flight within the next few years. Look at the starchaser team (
www.starchaser.co.uk), they along with several other private teams are competing for the X-prize - a multimillion dollar prize for the first private manned spaceflight.
I'm not sure if they'll beat China or India to it, but the X Prize certainly has the potential to open up space to NGOs.