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China To Launch 2 Into Space In September

Posted by timothy on from the more-room-up-there dept.

Doug Dante writes "China Daily reports that China's space agency plans to launch two Chinese astronauts into space for a 6-day mission in September. The spacecraft includes both a re-entry and an orbital module. The article, an official publication of the Chinese government in English, also extends a plain invitation for the U.S. to partner with China on space."

6 of 316 comments (clear)

  1. Good by Uber+Banker · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Co-operation between countries in space exploration is only a good thing. Build up trust, knock down militarisation.

  2. Maybe some day by turgid · · Score: 4, Insightful

    I look forward to the day when space exploration is done by private companies with staff all over the world. Then, the competition will be between companies and not some sort of xenophobic constest between mutually distrustful national governments. The pace of progress will probably increase by an order of magnitude too.

    --
    Stick Men
    1. Re:Maybe some day by Yartrebo · · Score: 4, Insightful

      There aren't any laws or treaties preventing private companies from sending things into space.

      The only reason they don't do it is that companies have never been the type to research or do any long term investment without a guaranteed gargantuan payout (the magnitude of which much rise exponentially, and by about 15% a year).

      A company can put $1B in excess capital in the stock market (or pay dividends, allowing the shareholders to do so) and in 35 years that $1B will become $32B on average. 70 years from now it can be expected to be worth over $1T. Since investing in space stuff is very risky, a substantial premium above the stock market return will be required to get companies to invest.

      The bottom line: Governments are probably best left to handle research, and publicly release the results so that all companies have access to the latest tech, which will allow companies to do what they do best - manufacture, not research.

  3. A matter of pride by Odo · · Score: 5, Insightful
    The US would never partner with the Chinese. Not while the US shuttle is grounded. And once it is flying, they won't need to partner with them. The Chinese know this. Having to rely on the Russians to get to the space station is embarrasing enough, but dropping to third place thanks to the Chinese would be too much.

    On the other hand, the Chinese have (so far) been very good a keeping the operation of their space program separate from issues of national pride. They launch misions when they are ready, not in time for some politico's birthday or scheduled speech. Linking the two was one of the reasons the Russians never made it to the Moon and one of the reasons the Americans lost Challenger.

  4. Free elections, non-hostile government by Tim+Ward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I would never consider cooperating with the Chinese until China becomes a normal country (free elections, non-hostile government, etc.)

    Let me guess - you're not American!

    (Rigged elections; government hostile to more countries than any other government on earth.)

  5. Comment removed by account_deleted · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Comment removed based on user account deletion