(no subject)

[arib]

This month's Scientific American has an article about the emerging Chinese space program and their impending launch of a manned mission, as well as plans for space stations and the like. The article mentioned the possivility of their actions starting a new space race with the US.

This makes me happy, it's been a long while since NASA's had someone to "compete" with, and the space program's been floundering for it.

Comments

[gnomi.livejournal.com]

it's been a long while since NASA's had someone to "compete" with

Given China's recent launch history, however, I'm not sure how much "competition" they'll be for the US, especially in the short term. China had a string of very serious losses as they attempted to put communications satellites up - the rockets either crashed on the launch pad or not long after take-off. I do hope that they work out all their problems before they start attempting human space travel.

[gridlore.livejournal.com]

Screw NASA. Open up space to the people with vision! The problem now is that all launches are controlled by governmental agencies. The theory is, that letting people have missiles would let them build ICBMs and do naughty things. Well, We were attacked with frigging airliners on 9/11, and I don't see the government running Southwest!

Privatize space. Let's leave NASA in the space probe business.

[mabfan.livejournal.com]

But will the American people feel as threatened by China's space program as we were in 1957 with the launch of Sputnik? (Which, incidentally enough, happened 46 years ago tomorrow.) For some reason, we don't seem to view China as a threat in the same way we viewed the USSR. I can easily see the current American populace yawning at news of Chinese manned missions, mores the pity.

Frankly, I want to see us return to the Moon, establish a permanent base, and use it to set out for Mars.