Chinese Space Program

Star Trek (in movie and television forms) and other sci-fi movies and television shows have spread a vision of permanent American dominance over space around the world. The reality may be very different. The idea that U.S. hegemony over space exploration is permanent is short-sighted and arrogant. These traits (short-sightedness and arrogance) are self-terminating because they produce just the sort of behavior (including, but not limited to, complacency and ill considered aggression) necessary to eliminating the conditions for the existence of the arrogance. The U.S. government and, far more powerful, corporate elite seem not to know what to do with the current position of global hegemony (one superpower and a "New World Order"). In a way, we seem to be floundering in a manner reminiscent of the Romans just over the edge of their apex. The Chinese, on the other hand, remain quite humble and eager to do whatever is necessary to advance their society to the level of the exalted United States. This has sparked a widespread wave of innovation within the country and has even been a central motivating force in the development of the Chinese space program, which has ongoing plans for a moon mission within three years. In other words, you with that smug look on your face, pay attention, someone's coming up from behind.