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Many are reluctant to admit our supreme being days are coming to an end, their blind patriotism doesn't allow them to see reality.

I have one answer for vote above me, China.

Hahaha, yeah, I got a laugh out of that too. I'm a big supporter of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, so you know. I know some people don't see it my way, but isn't it nice to be able to have the premier space program in the world? I think so.

But that won't be so for long. The Shuttle retires in October 2010 (last vehicle flying: Endeavour). What happens next depends on the president.

This is one of the few things I disagree with good Mr. Obama on: he wishes to decrease NASA's budget, and prolong our absence from the scene, so he can fund education or something. Mr. McCain wishes to speed up the development of Orion, the successor of the Shuttle, so more power to him if he wins.

In all likelihood, we won't be flying by 2013, no matter who wins. Development of a complex craft like that takes many years. The Shuttle design program started prior to the first lunar landing and extended until Columbia was completed in 1980.

So, buckle your seatbelts and ride the Soyuz, kids, until 2015 or so.

By then the Chinese will be preparing for their own lunar landing and we'll hardly be in low earth orbit.

Think about during that time, NASA and the United States will be developing much more advanced Spacecraft. For years we have transported astronauts of various nations. Now its our turn we will save a little bit of money while developing better technology, during the time.

No. What makes USA THE superpower, is...

1) our population growth

2) our armed citizens

3) our liberal founding fathers who gave power to the people, and a base founded in religous morals, which leads to healthy markets and society

*A government too large and too powerful is the only threat we face, the only threat that could change our superpower status.

obviously, #3 contributes to many other reasons why we are the superpower. private property ownership, freedom of speech and religion, right to bear arms, a constitution that limits government and not the people

Many think of the superpower of as the country with the most nukes - but realise, those nukes are not the extension of man and woman, and family and household - they are extension of the politicians.

As for outsourcing - which is what i see that news as - it is the result of free markets and should be taken advantage of to help further techological persuits.

It makes the international space station seem foolish and futile, if US and Russian ground forces go to blows it will have to be abandoned.

yeah, the russian transport thing is sickening, but until the n.a.u. replaces the u.s.a. we will in fact be a superpower.