China Is Winning the Space Race

Onkel Neal · 08-06-13, 07:16 AM

http://www.foreignpolicy.com/article...pisrc=obinsite

Don't laugh. In less than a decade, Beijing will likely be the world's most important player in outer space.

Quote:

China now has what the United States lacks: a reliable manned spacecraft. The United States finds itself in the preposterous situation of depending on Russia to transport personnel and much of the cargo to and from the ISS. Underfunding and poor planning means that the same nation that once landed men on the Moon can no longer launch anyone into orbit.

China, soon to be the world's economic leader as well as the number one in space.

WernherVonTrapp · 08-06-13, 07:31 AM

I'm not really surprised to hear this. Disappointed, but not surprised. IMHO, right now, China is not a kingdom divided against itself and is focused on these very goals. OTOH, I don't believe our nation (in my lifetime) has ever been more divided, and on just about every issue.

Skybird · 08-06-13, 07:37 AM

I'm not laughing at all.

I think it was you laughing when I suggested this perspective becoming real within 20 years, many years ago, in some long forgotten thread.

I think that was before the 2003 war.

TarJak · 08-06-13, 07:47 AM

Its definitely not laughable. The only question will be whether their economy can withstand the pressure its under until it gets to the number one position.

Ducimus · 08-06-13, 08:02 AM

Maybe it's news like this that is required for the people to wake the hell up. Personally, i think anyone who doesn't think we aren't on a slide downward is living in denial. I call it "Blind patriotism". We're raised from the earliest age that just because it's the united states we are either a.) always on the side of right or the just, or b.) that "it" (very bad things that happen in other countries throughout history) can't happen here. Why? Simply because this is America, and for no other reason. Sad truth is, we are not the greatest anymore, and we still think we are. Until we get it into our fat head's we aren't, nothing is going to change except how much more power our government has over us.

Betonov · 08-06-13, 08:22 AM

They're not winning, they've just taken the lead.

When Moon was conquered, Mars was the next step. After Mars Io or Europa, after then Alfa Centauri and after that....

And never mind China, imagine the shame if my little ketchup spot on the map of a country took the lead

nikimcbee · 08-06-13, 08:44 AM

@Neal,

So what does NASA (Houston) do with all those buildings real estate? Are they still open and employing people? Houston has a huge campus. I'm curious if their campus is a ghost town now?

AVGWarhawk · 08-06-13, 09:14 AM

And just what will China do with this new found space? Open more shops filled with low wage positions manufacturing goods for Walmart all over the world/galaxy and uncontrollably polluting the new environs at the same time?

nikimcbee · 08-06-13, 09:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AVGWarhawk

And just what will China do with this new found space? Open more shops filled with low wage positions manufacturing goods for Walmart all over the world/galaxy and uncontrollably polluting the new environs at the same time?

AVGWarhawk · 08-06-13, 09:21 AM

Delivering in under one parsecs.

Wolferz · 08-06-13, 09:55 AM

If they build launch vehicles as good as everything else they manufacture, should we even be worried?

When they Need Another Seven Astronauts, they've got plenty to choose from.

AVGWarhawk · 08-06-13, 09:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wolferz

If they build launch vehicles as good as everything else they manufacture, should we even be worried?

Excellent point. I wonder how well their particle board rockets will hold up.

BossMark · 08-06-13, 10:07 AM

Year 2020 China opens first restaurant on Mars

Wolferz · 08-06-13, 10:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BossMark

Year 2020 China opens first restaurant on Mars

2021 China closes first restaurant on Mars due to lack of customers.

Oberon · 08-06-13, 11:04 AM

Not entirely surprising given how much out of all the money the US government collects actually goes to NASA.

Still, provided that it can actually get funding, here's what NASA has planned over the coming years:

A lot of emphasis is put on getting to the Moon again, and while it would be nice to do so, it's probably not as high a priority as the likes of Mars and further out in the system. Whilst it would be nice to have a refuelling station of some sort on the Moon, it would be rather akin to refuelling your car at the bottom of your drive before going to the next state/county.

But yes, China is certainly forging ahead and exploiting the gaps left by America, but Tarjak does raise a fundamental point that the Chinese house is built on sand, and they, as America did in the 1980s, may be writing cheques that their economy cannot cash.

08-06-13, 07:31 AM	#2
WernherVonTrapp Admiral Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Now, alot farther from NYC. Posts: 2,228 Downloads: 105 Uploads: 0	I'm not really surprised to hear this. Disappointed, but not surprised. IMHO, right now, China is not a kingdom divided against itself and is focused on these very goals. OTOH, I don't believe our nation (in my lifetime) has ever been more divided, and on just about every issue. __________________ "The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step." -Miyamoto Musashi ------------------------------------------------------- "What is truth?" -Pontius Pilate

08-06-13, 07:37 AM	#3
Skybird Soaring Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: the mental asylum named Germany Posts: 42,602 Downloads: 10 Uploads: 0	I'm not laughing at all. I think it was you laughing when I suggested this perspective becoming real within 20 years, many years ago, in some long forgotten thread. I think that was before the 2003 war. __________________ If you feel nuts, consult an expert.

08-06-13, 08:44 AM	#7
nikimcbee Fleet Admiral Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Patroling the Slot. Posts: 17,952 Downloads: 90 Uploads: 0	@Neal, So what does NASA (Houston) do with all those buildings real estate? Are they still open and employing people? Houston has a huge campus. I'm curious if their campus is a ghost town now? __________________

08-06-13, 09:14 AM	#8
AVGWarhawk Lucky Jack Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: In a 1954 Buick. Posts: 28,253 Downloads: 90 Uploads: 0	And just what will China do with this new found space? Open more shops filled with low wage positions manufacturing goods for Walmart all over the world/galaxy and uncontrollably polluting the new environs at the same time? __________________ “You're painfully alive in a drugged and dying culture.” ― Richard Yates, Revolutionary Road

08-06-13, 09:21 AM	#10
AVGWarhawk Lucky Jack Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: In a 1954 Buick. Posts: 28,253 Downloads: 90 Uploads: 0	Delivering in under one parsecs. __________________ “You're painfully alive in a drugged and dying culture.” ― Richard Yates, Revolutionary Road

08-06-13, 07:47 AM	#4
TarJak Fleet Admiral Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Sydney, Australia Posts: 17,052 Downloads: 150 Uploads: 8	Its definitely not laughable. The only question will be whether their economy can withstand the pressure its under until it gets to the number one position.

08-06-13, 08:02 AM	#5
Ducimus Rear Admiral Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 12,987 Downloads: 67 Uploads: 2	Maybe it's news like this that is required for the people to wake the hell up. Personally, i think anyone who doesn't think we aren't on a slide downward is living in denial. I call it "Blind patriotism". We're raised from the earliest age that just because it's the united states we are either a.) always on the side of right or the just, or b.) that "it" (very bad things that happen in other countries throughout history) can't happen here. Why? Simply because this is America, and for no other reason. Sad truth is, we are not the greatest anymore, and we still think we are. Until we get it into our fat head's we aren't, nothing is going to change except how much more power our government has over us.

08-06-13, 08:22 AM	#6
Betonov Navy Seal Join Date: May 2009 Location: Slovenia Posts: 8,647 Downloads: 26 Uploads: 0	They're not winning, they've just taken the lead. When Moon was conquered, Mars was the next step. After Mars Io or Europa, after then Alfa Centauri and after that.... And never mind China, imagine the shame if my little ketchup spot on the map of a country took the lead

08-06-13, 09:55 AM	#11
Wolferz Navy Seal Join Date: May 2007 Location: On a mighty quest for the Stick of Truth Posts: 5,963 Downloads: 52 Uploads: 0	If they build launch vehicles as good as everything else they manufacture, should we even be worried? When they Need Another Seven Astronauts, they've got plenty to choose from. __________________ Tomorrow never comes

08-06-13, 10:07 AM	#13
BossMark Fleet Admiral Join Date: May 2011 Location: Leeds, West Yorkshire Posts: 15,272 Downloads: 278 Uploads: 0	Year 2020 China opens first restaurant on Mars __________________ Never trust the Tories look what Thatcher and Major did in the 80s and 90s and look what the wicked witch May is doing now doing now

08-06-13, 11:04 AM	#15
Oberon Lucky Jack Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 25,976 Downloads: 61 Uploads: 20	Not entirely surprising given how much out of all the money the US government collects actually goes to NASA. Still, provided that it can actually get funding, here's what NASA has planned over the coming years: A lot of emphasis is put on getting to the Moon again, and while it would be nice to do so, it's probably not as high a priority as the likes of Mars and further out in the system. Whilst it would be nice to have a refuelling station of some sort on the Moon, it would be rather akin to refuelling your car at the bottom of your drive before going to the next state/county. But yes, China is certainly forging ahead and exploiting the gaps left by America, but Tarjak does raise a fundamental point that the Chinese house is built on sand, and they, as America did in the 1980s, may be writing cheques that their economy cannot cash.