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U.S. Snubs China's Offer for Space Cooperation
Devar writes "According to this space.com article The US has turned down China's offer for cooperation in space because their 'technology was not mature.' "Anticipating future space cooperation with the U.S., China fitted the Shenzhou craft with a docking ring capable of linking up with the International Space Station (ISS) and has at least one launch site, Jiuquan, located at near the same latitude as NASA's Cape Canaveral, which would allow similar launch profiles." This action has prompted China to turn to the ESA."
I'm fairly patriotic, but someone needs to take stock of things and notice our space technology is so mature it's falling apart...
For great justice.
May as well just go with the status quo, where their spies just *steal* our tech!
The difference between stupidity and genius is that genius has its limits.
Don't forget, the main reason NASA was started in the first place is to demonstrate that the U.S. had the capability to keep up with the Russians when it comes to delivering objects (a.k.a. Nuclear Weapons) using rockets. Many of NASA's advancements in aeronautics and navigation have been used for weapons research. Sharing seeminly benign space exploration technology with the Chinesse government on leaves our ballistic missile technology vunerable because the two are inseperable.
*May as well just go with the status quo, where their spies just *steal* our tech!*
huh? I thought usa sends it's technology to china to be manufactured willingly.
world was created 5 seconds before this post as it is.
I wish I could grab this idiot or whoever's responsible for this crap and hit them square on the noggin with a 2x4. Did someone mention to the idiot in charge that our equipment currently in use is largely based off 1970's technology? So the Chinese are using similar equipment to what we had in the 60's--that makes them 10 years behind, not 20! They're moving forward too, while we're stationary. Watch for the Chinese to announce in 2020 that they are not interested in working with NASA due to our primitive space technology.
Shenzhou 5, - Pretty sure I had that for lunch today!
On a serious note, [asbestos suit=ON] how much did our neo-con nationalistic isolationist Executive Branch have to do with this decision. I realize that China would likely get all the tech benefits of any cooperation, but the benefits don't end with technology. Johnson-Freese sounds like a highly qualified technical advisor, but not an international policy maker. Right now China is a sleeping bear. It might be wise to extend some neighborly friendship now, while China is still in a position where they can't just defacto turn their noses up at it.
It's a safe bet that in a decade or two Chinese languages will be more popular in U.S. public schools than Spanish.
I'm not saying we should be afraid of the Chinese, especially not to the point of handing them our technologies. But it's also never wise to foster the creation of a powerful enemy.
Bottom line, I certianly think the U.S. could've handled this more diplomatically. Of couse you can say that about so much these days.
Operator, give me the number for 911!
All on it's own - with a modest international coolition of willing partners.
Sound familiar?
The world will not get better through technology. We must seek to be better people.