Jan. 2 (Bloomberg) -- President-elect Barack Obama will probably tear down long-standing barriers between the U.S.’s civilian and military space programs to speed up a mission to the moon amid the prospect of a new space race with China.

Eisenhower was one reason I was never a republican for very long. His separation of NASA from the military, like his screed against the "Military-Industrial" complex was at least a gratuitous slap at his comrades at arms. Edwards AF Base and China Lake NOTS had the brains in place - NASA had to start almost from scratch and Huston was planted on intellectually virgin soil.

Keep surprising me, Mr. President.