[EDIT] Well, this comment is in response to a comment which has just been deleted. [/EDIT]
> Sort of a meaningless statement, Columbus never claimed America for himself.
Of course he didn't.
> Kind of like the article itself: how could space even belong to a country? What is the meaning in that?
Well, it wasn't so long ago, when american colonists could discover a land or territory and claim it for themselves. After all, it is the way USA became what it is today : U.S. -- A., kind of.
You nailed it : how could space (or a planet, or part of a planet) could belong to a country ? What if USA claimed Mars ? Of course they won't. Of course if they did, the UN would say they can't. But ultimately, space is like anything else, it belongs to whoever controls it.
>jcnnghm is on the point. To add to his point, the US continues to innovate in space exploration, and the pride in doing so fuels that exploration.
Of course the pride is for the US. But still, it's a mankind achievement, one for which we all thank US.
> Sort of a meaningless statement, Columbus never claimed America for himself.
Of course he didn't.
> Kind of like the article itself: how could space even belong to a country? What is the meaning in that?
Well, it wasn't so long ago, when american colonists could discover a land or territory and claim it for themselves. After all, it is the way USA became what it is today : U.S. -- A., kind of. You nailed it : how could space (or a planet, or part of a planet) could belong to a country ? What if USA claimed Mars ? Of course they won't. Of course if they did, the UN would say they can't. But ultimately, space is like anything else, it belongs to whoever controls it.
>jcnnghm is on the point. To add to his point, the US continues to innovate in space exploration, and the pride in doing so fuels that exploration.
Of course the pride is for the US. But still, it's a mankind achievement, one for which we all thank US.