An article on NASA funding got me thinking. (Hoping the trite political nonsense which inevitably will follow will be ignored.)

Assume the US was not able to devote the resources necessary to launch the first few manned Moon and Mars expeditions of the 21st century as the primary participant. Let's say world economic conditions coupled with a domestic economic recession forced repayment of debt rather than funding adventures.

If it meant that Man would get to the Moon again and then Mars on meaningful missions 4, 5 or 6 years sooner than otherwise would happen should the US participate in an Asian mission as a minor partner? Let's say a Chinese rocket and craft built upon Russian technology with heavy Japanese contributions to funding.

The crew would be two Chinese, including the mission commander and the ground commander, 2 Russian "mission specialists", a Japanese "mission specialist" and an American "mission specialist".

Mind you, in this scenario with US help this could take place 5 years sooner than otherwise.

Scene one: Without US help, the next successful manned Moon and Mars missions will be Asian anyway, just 5 or so years downstream.

Scene two: Without US help, the next might be a mission which would be primarily American, just 5 or so years downstream but there are no guarantees that would be so.

Just curious what people think.