NASA Is Crucial to the U.S. Winning the New Space Race

"In the early 1400s, nearly a century before Columbus's fateful voyage to the Americas, China seemed most poised to use maritime might to create a global empire. Beginning in 1405, Ming Dynasty admiral Zheng He commanded a fleet of immense treasure ships on a series of expeditions across the Indian Ocean, showcasing China's wealth and strength as far afield as the eastern coast of Africa."

"Today a strange echo of this episode is unfoldingon the high frontier of space rather than the high seas. This time, however, China is rising to prominence as the U.S. squanders its advantages. Unlike the Ming court that made no secret of decisively abandoning China's naval aspirations, some U.S. leaders now embrace space as a vital, contested domain. But while they insist they're setting a course for America's continued dominance in space science, technology and exploration, their actions are contradicting and undermining that goal."

"Skepticism about, if not outright scorn for, civilian space spending is practically a bipartisan tradition in U.S. politics, but we are talking chiefly about the Make America Great Again policymaking of President Donald J. Trump. While [U.S. leaders] insist they're setting a course for America's continued dominance in space science, technology and exploration, their actions are contradicting and undermining that goal."

Beginning in 1405, Ming Dynasty admiral Zheng He led immense treasure ships across the Indian Ocean to the eastern coast of Africa, demonstrating China's maritime wealth and strength. By 1433 state-sponsored voyages ceased, and China turned inward, foregoing a chance to build a global maritime empire. Modern China is rising in space while the United States appears to squander advantages in space leadership. U.S. political skepticism toward civilian space spending persists across parties, intensified under Make America Great Again policymaking. U.S. leaders proclaim intentions to preserve American dominance in space science, technology, and exploration, yet policy actions often contradict and undermine those goals.

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