NASA chief: China will beat us back to the moon - CNN.com
Yes, we did it first in 1969, but we can't do it now. And we won't do it in less than 10-15 years. China is full steam ahead and will be there before NASA's target of 2020.
I don't think Americans will like it. We feel that the moon belongs to us in some way, being the only nation to send people there before. But we had better get used to competing again. China is coming.
And I'm going. I've applied for a sabbatical for next year and will split my time between Brazil and China. I have several good Chinese friends, scientists mostly, and know they're for real.