（前言： 中國神九勝利升空，安全返回。是全世界華人的驕傲。可喜可賀。本人先生對此表達了由衷的祝賀，並發表了感言。咱明天要飛回祖國，收拾行李的時候抽空翻譯了一下。感謝貝殼老A盛情相邀，咱提前結束在灣區別墅的度假，回到村里來共同慶賀這個偉大光榮的時刻。順便帶點手信，以饗鄉親）
（前前言： 請看 http://www.cnn.com/2012/06/29/opinion/chiao-china-space/index.html?hpt=hp_abar 是美國首位華裔宇航員 Leroy Chiao 寫給CNN的。Leroy 曾經與我曾輔佐的前任（現正競選）國會議員尼克蘭普森同屬與美國太空基金會。蘭普森是基金會理事。本文作者曾經擔任國會議員蘭普森經濟政策顧問）
老美看神九： 中國在太空的巨大進步
作者：羅傑 翻譯：丹奇
2012年6月29日
上周中國三名宇航員在太空中停留１３天后平安返回地面，它標誌着中國的太空項目邁出了一大步，同時也展示在加入載人太空精英俱樂部的技術方面的實力，成為能和其他兩個國家，美國和俄羅斯，共享這一榮譽的會員國家。
中國在這方面進步的獨特之處在於通過短短的九年時間實現了美國和俄羅斯化了幾十年才完成的工作－將宇航員送入太空，並在兩個空間站之間接龍。
作為一名美國生長的美國公民，我為中國成功將宇航員送入太空並能安全返回行動鼓掌。太空飛行是一項十分危險的行動，在過去的五十年裡，美國和俄羅斯為此項行動犧牲了不少宇航員。同時，作為美國公民，我為美國至今沒有宇航器將宇航員送上太空而感到不安，我們作為一個國家，卻必須依賴俄羅斯的宇航器才能進入國際空間站。
我們作為一個國家，是怎麼陷入如此窘境的呢？說起來，最主要的問題是還是由於我們嚴重的政府債務引起的。在過去的幾年裡，我們國家把重點放在去打那些無意義的（伊拉克）戰爭，拯救那些富人銀行和他們的投資人，而忽略將投資重點放在世界領先核心技術，特別是載人空間技術。
漸漸地，美國將失去和中國在這個領域競爭的優勢（正如我們已經失去的在其他市政基礎建設，如交通，道路和樓宇等方面的競爭，）
為什麼我們對太空（和基礎建設）項目失去了興趣？總的來講，這是一個政治和財政難題，從政治上講，我們的議員們，為數還不少呢，並不認為太空項目以及這些年由此開發的新技術有什麼實際價值可言；從財力上講這理由更充足，我們現在就是沒有這麼多錢來開發太空飛船項目。
我相信，現在很難爭論中國的政治體制是否更適合開發空間項目和他們在基礎建設方面的項目，在未來的一、兩年裡沒有大選，這樣就不會因此阻止政客們去做對國家發展有益的事情，這個決策過程更加合理，決策權在幾個人手中，而不是幾百個人手裡，這幾個人更有動力要把國家帶入更高層面與美國和俄國在太空迎頭趕上。
不幸的是，作為美國公民和空間項目的支持者，我們當前在繼續我們的太空飛行方面的項目被我們的政客阻礙了，而此時中國正在迅速開拓空間項目的技術和獲取更多的經驗。
美國是一個偉大的國家，在過去的幾十年裡，她在經濟，軍事和技術方面一直引領世界，然而，中國在太空技術方面的迅速發展讓我們看到了作為們太空技術持續的世界領跑者，我們在管理中所犯的錯誤。
最後，就我個人而言，我為中國能夠擁有成功地將宇航原送上太空並安全返回地面的技術鼓掌。這是一項在短期內取得的巨大成就，光這點就值得為此喝彩！也許，來自中國的競爭是件好事，它將激勵我們這個偉大的國家重新關注對我們國家和人民有益的事情，保持我們在空間技術的領先地位。
CHINA’S HUGE STEP FORWARD
IN SPACE
By Roger S.
June 29, 2012
Just this past week China returned three (3) astronauts safely back to earth after 13 days in space, signaling a huge leap forward for their space program and showcasing their technological expertise to join the elite club of nations who have sent people into space – sharing this noble membership with just 2 other countries, the United States and Russia.
What’s unique about China’s progress is that it has achieved in 9 short years what took the Americans and Russians years longer to achieve – putting people in space and then transferring those people to another space craft after a delicate docking maneuver.
As a natural born United States citizen I applaud China’s rapid ascent into the heavens and to return people safely back to earth. Space flight is a very dangerous business as noted by the lost crews of the U.S. Space Shuttle program and Russian losses through the past 50 years. Also, as a U.S. citizen I’m upset that as of this time the U.S. has no space vehicle with which to launch people into space. We, as a country, must rely on the Russians for a ride to get to the International Space Station ( ISS ).
How did we , as a country, find ourselves in such a situation? Well, first of all we find ourselves in a severe governmental budget deficit. Over the years we as a country have found it more important to fight unneeded wars ( Iraq ) and to bailout wealthy bankers and their investors than it is to invest in our world leading superior edge in technology , especially manned space flight.
Slowly, the United States is losing ground to China in this area ( as well as others such as new or updating infrastructure – roads, buildings, etc. ).
Why have we become so uninterested in space ( and infrastructure )? Basically, it’s a political equation and a budgetary one. Politically some members, enough of them, don’t believe there is a real merit to the space program or the new technologies that it has brought forth thru the years. Budgetary issues make the prior statement more easy to make – we just don’t have the money to fund space vehicle launches right now.
I believe, and it’s hard to argue the point, that the Chinese system of politics is better for space programs and their progress as well as a countries infrastructure. There is no upcoming election in the next year or two years that would stop you from doing what is necessary for the good of the country or its progress. The decision making process is much more streamlined. It’s left in the hands of a few rather than hundreds and those few have a driven interest for the country to proceed to the next level and match the Americans and Russians in space.
Unfortunately for us Americans we as citizens and supporters of our space programs are hindered by our politicians in continuing our space flight programs for the time being – all the while the Chinese rapidly gain ground in both experience and technology.
America is a great country and has led the world in economic, military and technological strength for decades but, China’s rapid gain in space technology only shines a light on our own missteps in how we manage our continued role as a world leader in space.
But, in the end I personally applaud the Chinese skill in sending humans into space and returning them safely to earth. It’s a great achievement in a short period of time, and should be applauded. Perhaps the competition for America from China will be good for us and motivate our own great country to again focus on what is important to us a country and a citizen and maintain our superiority in space.
