On the recordJune 22, 2010
Obama just said I want to change this program from one free enterprise group to my guys that are on my side; and, unfortunately, they're a little behind, but we'll beef them up and we'll try to get them there by spending the American taxpayers' money. It is stimulus for a new group of private companies. It's amazing. But who else is going to be competing? Taxpayers have already invested $9 billion in the Constellation, which will be lost. This is sort of a comedy piece that my staff put together. Everyone there is Oriental, but it has to do with the recent announcement--you know, we had promised that with the new Constellation program, we were going to go back to the Moon just to do some additional research there. The Chinese had announced in February of 2004 that they've started their Moon exploration program. Phase I involves orbiting a satellite around the Moon. Phase II involves sending a lander to the Moon. Phase III involves collecting lunar soil samples. China plans to complete its space station and a manned mission to the Moon by 2020. So not only are we giving up the fact that we're exceptional, but those people who are trying to show how exceptional they are--and quite honestly, the Chinese have done pretty much a turnaround since they learned that capitalism really works, and now they're doing the Moon explorations.
