Part 2 We reach for the stars,what about everyone else? - Moon, Mars and the stars Beyond

Well here is part 2 as promised


USA

USA has the largest and one of the oldest space research programmes, it is well funded but after the space shuttle disaster it did hit a problem for a while. Hopefully this will be solved soon, as it did seem to be a problem due to lack of innovation, as for a while after moon landing, space work turned away from planet exploration towards shuttle building, which has yet to fully be used. Recently President Bush has called for mission to moon, then leading to manned exploration of the mars and beyond. I actually was quite impressed with this speech, as it was unusually bold and optimistic, where as space programmes are generally avoided by politicians.

http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2004/01/20040114-3.html

MoonRobotic Landers 2008Human Landings 2015-2020

http://www.nasa.gov/externalflash/Anniversary_VisMar/index_noaccess.html

MarsUnmanned Robotic Recon Rover 2005Also below are a link to missions that are current in other areas as well

http://www.nasa.gov/missions/timeline/current/current_missions.html

This includes Work on the Space Station to test whether it is possible for people to live in conditions similar to those on mars, concerns over travel conditions on way there as well

http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/station/index.htmlhttp://www.nasa.gov/missions/timeline/index.html

25 year voyagealso below is a link to the voyager missions, which have now gone outside the solar system and are still sending out large amounts of data.

http://voyager.jpl.nasa.gov/

CHINA

This site below produces some very good info on history and immediate plans for China Space exploration. The main focus of China is on improving its ability to independantly reach space, then the moon and finally to establish a permanent base there in long term. Interestingly if this goes according to plan, China will have landed a man on the moon 2010, 5 years from now and 10 years before next US landing is planned.

http://www.universetoday.com/am/publish/china.html

also below is a link to other sites related to chinese space exploration, including the main site (luckily it is translated)

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/3161426.stmhttp://www.cnsa.gov.cn/main_e.asp

also a link to site, covering chinese mission in space. This does appear to be very ambitious and a new space race is very likely very soon. This can only be good for space exploration, which has if not exactly declined, has been less ambitious recently

http://www.cnsa.gov.cn/english/spacye_policy/more.asp

EUROPE

Well first a link to the homepage of the European Space agency

http://www.esa.int/esaCP/index.html

Mostly work on Unmanned space probes and rockets to both mars and the moon, as well as satellites. Mainly dominated by france, but UK does make a contribution as do other members. Also work carried out on International space station.

RUSSIA

Russia space programe was during the 1980s a powerful competitor with NASA and until the break up of the Soviet union was a major industry. Since then it has declined somewhat, but still has highly trained people in it, including from the old MIR space station. It is mainly involved in work on international space station. Perhaps in future it could be more important again.

http://www.russianspaceweb.com/

JAPAN

Below is a link to Japan Space agency

http://www.nasda.go.jp/index_e.html

Basically Japan although a highly advanced nation, it is probably like the UK, too small to pursue a major independant Space Programme, for now.However japan is planning a mission this year to send a small probe to scan the moon, SELENE project.

http://www.nasda.go.jp/projects/mission-in-progress_e.htmlhttp://www.nasda.go.jp/projects/exploration/index_e.html

INDIA

Below is a link to the main Indian Space agency

http://www.isro.org/

India seems to be focusing, for the moment on Satellites and Space Science programmes for immediate future. But further on, India is likely to be the next China in this area.

http://www.isro.org/decade_plan.htm

This is not to forget other countries that are contributing including Brazil and Canada. Also lot of countries contributing at International Space station. The future for space research does look good, perhaps the stars will be reached soon enough