Slashdot Mirror
Chinese Moon Base by 2012 - or 2006?
apsmith writes "Former congressman and House Science chairman Robert S. Walker has written some rather striking conclusions about Chinese intentions in space over the next few years, based on information received for the recent Commisison on the Future of Aerospace. Walker is convinced the Chinese are going all-out for a permanent settlement on the Moon within 10 years; apparently some closer to the situation in Japan think the first landing will be in only 3-4 years. Meanwhile the Economist says IT people are starting to focus on space as the next high-tech venue. Fortunately, despite NASA's neglect, we do have a few private missions to the Moon in the works."
Space exploration should no longer exist as a competitive sport.
Manned pace exploration has always been a competitive sport. The problem is that so far there have been few economic or scientific rewards from shooting men into space or landing them on the moon, and the expense dwarfs any return. The only reason to do it, in fact, is just for the hell of it, so you can boast of your scientific and technical superiority. China is welcome to do this; I'd rather see my tax dollars spent on cheaper, more useful unmanned missions, and non-space stuff like curing cancer or AIDS.
As for cooperation with China, I get more out of working with native Chinese every day (like virtually everyone else in the scientific community) than I would out of watching a joint moon landing on CNN.
Jeez, some of the black guys I work with disagree w/ you but what would they know? They only actually live right fucking here in the US and enjoy their freedom instead of getting all of their knowledge on America from US-bashing sites. I'm still waiting for you to do something besides run your bitchass mouth on Slashdot, Troed. By the way, my little brother was there when the statue came down in Baghdad. He didn't see a conspiracy or anything of the sort, just a lot of happy people w/ some confusion on what to do now that Saddam was gone. Of course, you'd probably say anything he says is either propaganda or brainwashing, right? Even though he was actually there, I'm sure he doesn't have the info you get by reading your favorite websites, right?
You know, you're an even bigger jackass than I took you for and I took you for a very big jackass. Reach behind you, grab your ears, and pull your head out of your ass. You're never going to do anything except bitch and whine on the Internet and you will never get over that fact. If it wasn't the US, you'd be bashing the Soviet Union or whatever superpower it's fashionable to bash nowadays. What about North Korea? I guess you're cool w/ them, right? I wouldn't punch you if I met you in person, don't worry. I'd just slap you like the little bitch you are.
This guy is way out there