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Chinese Team Heading for Coldest Spot on Earth
LMCBoy writes "Dome A is the highest point on the Antarctic Plateau, and it has never been reached by humans. It is thought to be the coldest place on earth, and is certainly among the most remote. Yesterday, a team of Chinese explorers set out from Fremantle, Australia to reach Dome A and set up a robotic weather station which will monitor the local conditions for up to five years. The team is expected to arrive at Dome A in early 2005."
I mean, really. Look at all the things China is doing vis-a-vis science, technology, exploration, etc. They're like the Soviet Union of the 50's, involved in everything from space exploration to breaking records, to generally advancing its culture and playing a greater role in the world. Just a thought - don't grill me about their deficiencies.
A blog like any other.
The Chinese aren't going there as a big PR exercise. If you haven't noticed, the Chinese aren't big on grand, meaningless showboating: they do what they do because it furthers their long-term objectives, not because it wins them short-term positive press coverage.
The long-term thinking and objectives behind this sort of expedition is space exploration. If the Chinese can successfully establish a base in one of the least hospitable places on the planet, and overcome the physical, logistical, pyschological and other hurdles that such an endeavour involves, then they will have gained valuable experience and climed another rung up the ladder towards the eventual establishment of a populated lunar or Martian base.
They aren't going there for the scenery, they're going there to take some hard knocks and learn from them.
"Accept that some days you are the pigeon, and some days you are the statue." - David Brent, Wernham Hogg
Day 1: Cold
...
Day 2: Cold
Day 23017: Warm.
There seem to be two responses going:
(1) China/India is now out-pacing the US.
(2) Yawn, they are finally catching up with the USA of the 1950's.
Neither strikes me as justified. The US is still pushing the boundaries of exploration and science in ways that neither country can hope to match any time soon, but that doesn't mean that their efforts count for nothing. Both countries are again making significant contributions to the sum of human achievement and knowledge. We should all be happy about that.
The US has done such things, but doesn't seem to be expending quite the effort they use to on pushing boundaries of exploration and science. Increasingly it seems to be Chinese and Indians with the real fire to try and push ahead. And all the better I say. The US seemed to slacken off and grow complacent, so its about time there was some serious competition again.
What the hell are you talking about? The US is pouring billions into research on a myriad of efforts:
1. Robotic missions to Saturn
2. Two (TWO!) golf carts running around ON MARS drilling holes in rocks as I write this
3. cranking out pharmeceuticals at an incredible pace
4. Internet II
5. restoring the everglades
6. Scaled Composites PRIVATE astronauts
7. GPS satellite system (+70 birds)
You may be missing it because most of the really bitchen things done in the US are done by private companies (thank God), but the US govt efforts are still pretty big and pretty kick-ass in my book.
Alternatively, the Chinese are doing things that everyone else did 40 years ago. They aren't pushing a single boundary, ANYWHERE.
davejenkins.com |
I'm no aviator, so I don't know why the team has to slog it there on foot. Why can't they simply drop in with a helicopter? I'm sure there's a simple reason I'm overlooking.
These are breasts; this is source code.
Why do you have a problem with those two things belonging to one person?
if you happen to live in Taiwan.