US Academy President Sounds a Note of Reason Regarding Space Exploration. (March 4, 2009)

U.S. National Academy of Sciences president Ralph Cicerone replying to a question put to him at a House of Representatives' spending panel that oversees NASA's budget.

Would he "bet" on China's plans to "beat us back to the moon"?

Professor Cicerone made it clear that he didn't think going back to the moon should be a priority for U.S. science.

I wouldn't bet against it, but I wouldn't be too worried about it, either. I wouldn't want NASA to turn itself upside down to go there, for unknown purposes. So I wouldn't be too upset if the Chinese went there on their own.

Now as regards the International Space Station...