Slashdot Mirror
Chinese Space Program
ilduce writes "Here's a short but interesting piece on China's space program. It doesn't reveal a tremendous amount of new stuff, but I think it's especially interesting that they target economic benefits as one of the reasons for justifying it. I'm reminded of a NYTimes article a few months ago on genetic engineering that said that in 1986 (?) they gathered scientists for and poured money into the seven areas of science critical for their future. This interests me because it would seem that with the more or less stall in the american program and the willingness of the chinese to spend money and lives, china may end up being the first (20 years later) to mine the multi trillion dollar near earth asteroids. Food for thought. (or not)"
The US Rocket and space program was fueled a lot by fear that it we here behind the USSR and would not be able to match them in a nuclear missile war. The Chinese are worried about the US using anti missile defense system. Something George Bush says he will back. This is something they must feel will tip the balance away from them. A big space program is a good away of getting better missile tech while saying is for other reasons. The US program died down because our military need for missile tech died down to a point it is now because it is no longer the top priority of the US defense.