Manned missions are becoming a new priority for the American space program, which will now focus on flights to other planets - in particular, to the Moon and Mars. The Americans want to return to the moon and thus prepare for the journey to the Red Planet. At the same time, the emphasis will be placed not on international cooperation, but on work with private space companies.
In general, the United States of America does not plan to cooperate, for example, with Russia, in the implementation of a lunar or Martian mission. Such projects are too significant to share the success with some other space power - the USA is sure.
“Astronauts from the United States will again set foot on the surface of our natural satellite. This time, they will have a more significant mission than leaving a flag or footprints on the moon - returning to the moon will be a kind of springboard for a trip to Mars,”says US Vice President Michael Pence from The Wall Street Journal.
Pence published an entire column in the WSJ on the future of American space exploration. The prospects outlined by the US vice president look rather dubious for Russia, which, given a cut space budget, may be out of work if the Americans do not plan to cooperate.
Kolesnikov Andrey
