That's probably why we don't have the flurry behind going to the moon (and then to Mars) now. Who is going to beat us to the moon? Wait.. we already went there. Mars... is any nation going to beat us there right now? China does have ambitions to the moon, whether they can pull off things to get their and to Mars, we'll see. It could energize a new space race, but I don't see that happening at the moment.