[Kosh]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/4333158.stm

Discuss.

[Singh]

Not surprising.

America's interest no longer in expanding humanity's influence to the stars; its unsurprising that at the least, however, someone else will still have the interest in them, as well as the resources to do it.

Shame on the 'mericans though.

[aldo_14]

God, it takes the International Space Station some amount of time to get their Sweet and sour chicken delivered, doesn't it?

[Kosh]

Originally posted by aldo_14
God, it takes the International Space Station some amount of time to get their Sweet and sour chicken delivered, doesn't it?

The Americans don't want the Chinese on the ISS.

[vyper]

Where are they supposed to get their Chips & Curry sauce?

[aldo_14]

It' not just the Chinese at it, either

[Black Wolf]

Originally posted by Singh
Not surprising.

America's interest no longer in expanding humanity's influence to the stars; its unsurprising that at the least, however, someone else will still have the interest in them, as well as the resources to do it.

Shame on the 'mericans though.

It's got nothing to do with "Expanding humanity's influence to the stars". The chinese are doing it for exactly the same reasons the Americans and Russians did:

 - It's good for public morale and the government's image.

 - If you can build a rocket to the moon/orbit, you can build a better ICBM.

Don't get all misty eyed about it - it's nothing more than ever increasing Chinese tactical capability. With a few decades they will be the dominant superpower. No question about it.

Interesting they're going for a solid ground landing rather than a splashdown though...

[aldo_14]

Same as the Ruskies do; perhaps they've borrowed/stole/bought some of their tech.

Although i don't think the Chinese have the same international naval capability the US does, so maybe it's simple logistics.  

Anyways, the sole reason IMO for the Chinese doing this - same as when they got the olympics - is propaganda for their own people.

[vyper]

Hmm, orbital troop deployment?

[Grey Wolf]

That's a foolish and inefficient pipedream.

As for the solid landing, here's your explanation:

Shenzhou VI, like Shenzhou V, has been influenced by Russia's Soyuz spacecraft, a model developed in the late 1960s.

[aldo_14]

Originally posted by Grey Wolf
That's a foolish and inefficient pipedream.
 

Efficiency is counter revolutionary!

[Singh]

Originally posted by Black Wolf


It's got nothing to do with "Expanding humanity's influence to the stars". The chinese are doing it for exactly the same reasons the Americans and Russians did:

 - It's good for public morale and the government's image.

 - If you can build a rocket to the moon/orbit, you can build a better ICBM.

Don't get all misty eyed about it - it's nothing more than ever increasing Chinese tactical capability. With a few decades they will be the dominant superpower. No question about it.

Interesting they're going for a solid ground landing rather than a splashdown though...

Well, there goes my hopes for humanity down the toilet.

Propaganda FTW I guess

[Rictor]

Now if they were really serious, they would get started on the space elevator, and beat everyone else to the punch.

[Grey Wolf]

Space elevators are still on the very edge of the possibility for science.  Our alloys and other materials would barely cut it, but we honestly need to improve them a bit more before we build one.

[Martinus]

Originally posted by Rictor
Now if they were really serious, they would get started on the space elevator, and beat everyone else to the punch.

[color=66ff00]You're going to punch everyone with a space elevator!?!

*screams*
[/color]

[vyper]

/me envisioned Maeg looking like Homer Simpson at the moment of that scream

[Black Wolf]

Originally posted by Rictor
Now if they were really serious, they would get started on the space elevator, and beat everyone else to the punch.

Sky Ramp > Space Elevator right at the moment IMO

[Saturn2004]

Originally posted by Grey Wolf
Space elevators are still on the very edge of the possibility for science.  Our alloys and other materials would barely cut it, but we honestly need to improve them a bit more before we build one.

i heard that the  city of  san diego was planning to design a  space  elevator  made  out of   fiber- optic cable

[Col. Fishguts]

Originally posted by Saturn2004

i heard that the  city of  san diego was planning to design a  space  elevator  made  out of   fiber- optic cable

What .... the city of San Diego is designing it ? Like the city administration buffs ?

[aldo_14]

Originally posted by Col. Fishguts


What .... the city of San Diego is designing it ? Like the city administration buffs ?

Imagine the expenses they could claim on 'research trips'.