That committee called for space science to be given a far higher billing above and beyond that accorded to mannedmissions and space stations and resulted in a lot of cheap but effective scientific missions being launched.
While the US is already thinking ahead to mannedmissions on Mars, China's space program is still in its infancy, with the country taking the very first steps to sending vehicles and eventually people to the Moon.
India says its space program, which also includes a plan to send manned moon missions, helps its scientists develop technology that can be used in other sectors.