Now this is the way everyone envisioned the future of space would be, good going George!!

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Bush to seek partners for space plan
By Frank Sietzen Jr. and Keith L. Cowing
United Press International
Published 1/12/2004 11:01 AM
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WASHINGTON, Jan. 12 (UPI) -- President George W. Bush will ask for international participation in his plan to resume missions to the moon and to send human crews to Mars within the next 20 years, a senior administration source told United Press International.

The decision means foreign launch vehicles or spacecraft components likely would play an important role in the space effort.

As UPI has reported, Bush is expected to announce Wednesday sweeping changes in U.S. space policy, including retiring the space shuttle fleet and gradually withdrawing from participation in the International Space Station. The president is scheduled to deliver the speech at 3 p.m. EST at NASA headquarters in Washington.

Although the thrust of the Bush space initiative will be within the context of domestic policy, sources said the president prefers the United States avoid undertaking such ambitious exploration journeys alone, if at all possible, and that the new plan not rule out international participation.

http://www.upi.com/view.cfm?StoryID=20040111-094749-7399r