NASA’s successful landing on Mars was not only a technical and scientific achievement, but a political one.
Pierre-Yves Frei writes for the Tribine de Geneve of Switzerland:
“Just as the Moon was conquered due to the Cold War between the U.S. and the USSR, the conquest of Mars is meant to retain American leadership space … Beijing has promised to put people to the moon by 2025. Suddenly, the United States has also announced intentions to return to the Moon and even establish a base as a stepping stone for a manned mission to Mars in 2029. So there!”
“Caught up in budgetary constraints, NASA is increasingly turning to the private sector. What country will be the first to plant its flag on Mars? Perhaps the question should be, which brand?”
EDITORIAL
By Pierre-Yves Frei
Translated By Philippe Guittard
May 27, 2008
Switzerland – Tribune de Geneve – – Original Article (French)
That is to say, Mars belongs to the United States! It’s a question of national pride. The landing of the Phoenix probe, which it is hoped will settle the issue of the presence of frozen water on the solar system’s fourth planet, confirms this once again. It’s a great success for NASA, which follows those of the two rovers, Spirit and Opportunity.
It’s not only a technical and scientific victory, but a political one. For just as the Moon was conquered due to the Cold War between the United States and the USSR, the conquest of Mars is meant to retain American leadership space. Russia can no longer claim the title of competitor, Europe has far too modest capabilities, and there is little that China, trying to make up for lost time, can do to compete with the Americans.
READ ON AT WORLDMEETS.US, along with continuing translated foreign press coverage of American involvement in the space race.
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