Chinese Space Station

[Papewaio]

Three Chinese air force pilots are now in the space station. All are communist party members and vetoed as much for their ability as their propaganda profile. So China can now get people into space and into a space station, looks like they are on target to go to the moon and beyond.

Some of the propaganda that has gone along with this has shown a less then deft touch. When describing the first Chinese woman in space she was first described as a wife and proficient homemaker.

So one giant leap for mankind with another nation in space. One tiny step for womankind in China.

[Kadagar_AV]

Three Chinese air force pilots are now in the space station. All are communist party members and vetoed as much for their ability as their propaganda profile. So China can now get people into space and into a space station, looks like they are on target to go to the moon and beyond.

Some of the propaganda that has gone along with this has shown a less then deft touch. When describing the first Chinese woman in space she was first described as a wife and proficient homemaker.

So one giant leap for mankind with another nation in space. One tiny step for womankind in China.

... From your point of view. Awesome from their point of view.

From my point of view... I find it cool that they have a system where a woman can be a mother, home maker AND astronaut. In today's western world the woman often have to choose between going for career or homemaking.

Which perspective is more human I will leave unsaid.

U GO GIRL :D

[Papewaio]

She doesn't have kids which apparently is unusual. That and she apologized for putting off having a child as her career comes first.

[Kadagar_AV]

She doesn't have kids which apparently is unusual. That and she apologized for putting off having a child as her career comes first.

I'm really not read into it, I got the wrong impression of "homemaker" then... My bad :)

[Greyblades]

Hmm, china's extending it's space program...
Taking all bets on how long before something explodes that shouldnt be able to.

[Fragony]

Pffffffffffft a mere space station, now this is cool https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n4tg...e_gdata_player

[Major Robert Dump]

This is ridiculous. The next thing you are going to tell me is that there are Chinese cowboys.

[Strike For The South]

We went to the moon 40 years ago. Old hat.

[Sarmatian]

Hmm, china's extending it's space program...
Taking all bets on how long before something explodes that shouldnt be able to.

Yes, none of the American shuttles ever exploded!

Oh, wait...

None of the Russian space stuff ever exploded...

Oh, wait...

Ok, bad examples, move along.

[Greyblades]

So? China has exploding chairs, manholes, watermelons, cigarettes, toilets, coins, I am half expecting their mission control to have exploded at least twice before the end.

[Kadagar_AV]

Why the hate?

MIR was ready when, 98, 99?

So to compare the Chinese space program to the moon rocket isn't fair, they also have a space station. If you want to compare to the US you have to go well into this Millenium.

Sure they are behind, no one thinks otherwise.

However, the main point is that they are NOT as far behind as, say, 5 years ago...

And if they continue this program at this speed, they will be well ahead of us before this decade is over. Specially now when the west more or less gave up on space. Too busy finding WMD's in Iraq and UBL in Afghanistan.

[Major Robert Dump]

That was some costly mustard gas we found in Iraq.

[Papewaio]

At this rate China or a private company will be the ones with a manned Mars landing first.

I can see it now a Chinese spaceship, designed by Ikea and built by Foxconn.

[Kadagar_AV]

That was some costly mustard gas we found in Iraq.

wasn't it Dijon Mustard gas?


EDIT:

Pape, IKEA rockets may be cheap, but imagine the look on the astronauts face when they have to assemble it!

[drone]

And if they continue this program at this speed, they will be well ahead of us before this decade is over. Specially now when the west more or less gave up on space.

I expect their program will slow down considerably once they reach our level. They will no longer have the luxury of stealing tech to advance their progress.

[HopAlongBunny]

I expect their program will slow down considerably once they reach our level. They will no longer have the luxury of stealing tech to advance their progress.

Likely true; once you have the missile and targeting acumen to make a space station a reality, the other gains pale in terms pay-off. Besides, outside of tourism there is not much practical point to a manned space program. Although, if any country could benefit from the potential of space colonization China's the one.

Necessity the mother of invention? I wouldn't disparage their chances too much.

[Fragony]

You are dangerously low on fantasy if you believe it isn't possible. Of course it is, watching it with great interest

[Noncommunist]

I expect their program will slow down considerably once they reach our level. They will no longer have the luxury of stealing tech to advance their progress.

Perhaps. We had to steal quite a few German scientists to get to our level.

http://xkcd.com/984/

But I do hope that they do something scary enough to give us a real sputnik moment. So we finally start putting more money into it and start trying to compete again.

[Ibn-Khaldun]

We went to the moon 40 years ago. Old hat.

Yes, you did.. and when was the last time you were there?

Likely true; once you have the missile and targeting acumen to make a space station a reality, the other gains pale in terms pay-off. Besides, outside of tourism there is not much practical point to a manned space program. Although, if any country could benefit from the potential of space colonization China's the one.

Necessity the mother of invention? I wouldn't disparage their chances too much.

If anyone is going to colonize another celestial bogy then it's going to be a private company. Countries have signed treaties that prevent them from gaining lands/territories on another planets/moons/etc.

[Sarmatian]

Yes, you did.. and when was the last time you were there?



If anyone is going to colonize another celestial bogy then it's going to be a private company. Countries have signed treaties that prevent them from gaining lands/territories on another planets/moons/etc.

Which will probably change as soon as technology allowed it...


Imagine, we might colonize Mars and then have a Martian revolution, where they, outraged by the prices hold a red dirt party and throw all red dirt into space...

[Papewaio]

If anyone is going to colonize another celestial bogy then it's going to be a private company. Countries have signed treaties that prevent them from gaining lands/territories on another planets/moons/etc.

I'm sure if there was an economic or cultural payoff a nation would set up a 'science research' station. Where they study the asteriods by carving them up in a process that allows them to determine the age and stability of the asteriod, to measure the metal content samples would just happen to be sent back to earth. Sure some of the science samples might be sold, maybe asteroid rock for sushi platters...

[Kadagar_AV]

Likely true; once you have the missile and targeting acumen to make a space station a reality, the other gains pale in terms pay-off. Besides, outside of tourism there is not much practical point to a manned space program. Although, if any country could benefit from the potential of space colonization China's the one.

Necessity the mother of invention? I wouldn't disparage their chances too much.

1. There are gains we don't know of yet, as we haven't discovered them. To be the no. 1 nation in space tech, when / if an opportunity arise where space tech is needed, isn't a bad thing.

2. National status. CivII and the world at large agree on this. Space tech is how we measure a nations technological advancement. When builder Bob buys a new car prefers if it comes from a nation who can go to Mars over a nation who can go to the moon.

[Ibn-Khaldun]

I really hope that some science research centers could be created.

Outer Space Treaty from 1967

"Art II of the Treaty states that "outer space, including the Moon and other celestial bodies, is not subject to national appropriation by claim of sovereignty, by means of use or occupation, or by any other means".

[Strike For The South]

Yes, you did.. and when was the last time you were there?

When was the last time Estonia was anything?


I continue to be in awe that these countries which have been on the outside during the United States time as superpower now look to China as some sort of counter weight. I will double over in laughter when the Chinese exploit you harder than we could ever dream of doing.

There a 1 billion Han Chinese becuase of cultural genocide, China is the real OG. I eagerly await the fireworks

[Papewaio]

How many people have been to the moon vs used Skype?

How many countries have low public debt?

=][=

There is no higher ground then space. So I'd be very careful lettin it be dominated by one nation.

[rory_20_uk]

I really hope that some science research centers could be created.

Outer Space Treaty from 1967

Something that was written at a time that no one could realistically try to do so, and there was no economic or military value. If these variables change, expect this treaty to be quickly forgotten or "reinterpreted".

[Major Robert Dump]

When was the last time Estonia was anything?


I continue to be in awe that these countries which have been on the outside during the United States time as superpower now look to China as some sort of counter weight. I will double over in laughter when the Chinese exploit you harder than we could ever dream of doing.

There a 1 billion Han Chinese becuase of cultural genocide, China is the real OG. I eagerly await the fireworks

Wow

[Jolt]

中国的太空计划万岁！

Countries have signed treaties that prevent them from gaining lands/territories on another planets/moons/etc.

Teehee, imagine the Vereenigde Uit-Indische Compagnie (United Outer-Indian Company) getting hold of some planets. :>

It shall be Helium-3 extraction which shall catapult the Netherlands once again to a world power. :D

[Fragony]

heh don't worry about that