China is turning up the heat in a new space race that has the US under pressure to reclaim the moon and has given new thrust to Japan's ill-starred rocket program.

"It is quite possible that the next footprints on the moon will be Chinese," the Australian astronaut Andy Thomas said.

"We all need to watch out because the Chinese will start to do things that we, in our timidity, have not stepped up to do."

Dr Thomas was speaking in Tokyo, where he and three other NASA astronauts are this week visiting the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency.

The agency works closely with NASA, particularly on robotics, and NASA trains its astronauts. The recently returned shuttle flight included a Japanese crew member, while at least two other Japanese astronauts are training in Florida.

Dr Thomas, one of the most senior astronauts in the US space program, said the speed of China's advances would have wide consequences.

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*sigh*

do u believe that the US really put a man on the moon?

hmmm...all these facts r really begining to make me feel that US faked it

Actually I do. lol I mean there's no reason for them to fake it!