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US Space Policy Update Urges International Cooperation
eldavojohn writes "The recent shift in NASA's spaceflight goals has caused great stress in the space community and those related to efforts in space. A White House update to the policy is said to emphasize cooperation with the international community and looks to be a move away from individual nations competing in space. Instead, the document urges intense competition (PDF) in the commercial sector and reasons that 'The United States considers the sustainability, stability, and free access to, and use of, space vital to its national interests. It is the shared interest of all nations to act responsibly in ways that emphasize openness and transparency, and help prevent mishaps, misperceptions, and mistrust.' Space.com also notes that you can submit your comments and thoughts to the task force Obama appointed to determine new directions. No doubt this avoidance or departure from another Space Race will have a lot of people concerned that the US is out of the game."
So... who's spending more than NASA?
According to this the Chinese were spending about 1/10th of NASA in 2007. Does that make them the Royals?
JAXA comes in at around 2 billion dollars as well.
ISRO spends about half that ($1.23 billion).
Oh, who could forget about Russia? The FRO has a declared budget of about $2.4 billion.
Puny old NASA with it's $17.6 billion budget. The Mets indeed.