EU, in collaboration with Japan, or China? Could anyone collaborate with China?

China, alone?

Or will someone fund the Russians? That would seem to be the least expensive way to go about it, but doesn't have the element of national pride some ways might.

Don't think the US will be in a position to do anything by itself for quite a while. The big crunch is coming, with baby boomers retiring and the middle class shrinking, increasing the deficit, and balance of payments problems.

Entitlements will suck up what money wars don't.

Even Reagan's ISS could only be "sold" as an international effort.

Could be that if it looks as if someone might do it before the US, the national pride will somehow find the money. I would hope someone would then have the sense to put together a collaboration with the Russians. I'm really impressed with the cost and reliability of their systems. (I know, they've had accidents. So has the US. They've had near disasters, too, as has the US.)

Arf