America is used to being "first" in space, even if Russia put Sputnik I up months before the U.S. put Explorer I in orbit, and Yuri Gagarin got into space a month before Alan Shepherd.  The truth is, only Americans have walked on the Moon, and American companies continue to lead in various aspects of space technology.  But a new space race is on.  This month, China put a highly capable robotic rover on the dark side of the Moon — a benchmark first.  The rover is now sending back photos.  In the meantime, races for Mars, the Moon, and various uses of near-Earth space continue.  Maybe the most interesting space race, for the moment, is a quiet one by various companies — those completely American and preparing to launch from American soil to foreign companies or those launching from foreign soil — to lower the cost of putting satellites in orbit.  This private-sector competition is increasingly...(Read Full Post)