The Chinese undoubtedly will build a "system" for which the Moon is a waypoint, or system which can be 'stretched' to Mars. If they want to go to the Moon for prestige, I would think an absolute world-beating manned landing on Mars would be hard to pass on.

It seemed to me the Moon was the endpoint for the Apollo systems, just as far as they could reach. That's not a criticism, just what it seemed like, and very appropriate. The US could have built a follow-on system for Mars, chose to head into the Shuttle instead.

And it might be that in 10 more years China might want to flex its muscles a bit, too. There may be political alliances then for whom a Mars landing could be powerfully symbolic, a signal to younger nations that there has been created a New Order.

I wonder if the US could let that happen, could let China get there first, or would try to co-opt them into "cooperation" on a "coalition" to go to Mars?

Without the shuttle we may not have had Hubble. Not sure where else it has been indispensable, though I'm positive there have been many items. Between it and ISS much science has been delayed.

Seeings as how there isn't a military threat contained in the Chinese program, military capacity maybe but no threat, I wish 'em Bowserspeed. (Thought that term might drive D. S. nuts. And, I don't have much luck with standard prayers.)

Arf