China To Launch Second Manned Mission

the_central_kingdom wrote to mention a Xinhuanet article discussing a second upcoming Chinese spacecraft launch in October. From the article: "Although Sun did not provide details about the new mission, space officials earlier said China has been preparing for the second manned venture into outer space since the first mission, piloted by Yang Liwei, almost two years ago. Sun Laiyan, chief of the China National Space Administration, earlier told China Daily that Shenzhou VI will carry two men into orbit for five or six days. "

Comments

Technology Transfer

[putko]

Don't know how good this source is, but:

Here is something from Global Security about the origin of the tech.

Supposedly the tech is not just a copy of Russian stuff, and the Chinese are talking about what they are doing because they want to make money off of space services. You have to talk about it to sell it.

Re:Queue /. alarmists...

[ghoul]

GDP per capita is a usefull comparison when you are trying to measure quality of life but not when you try to measure scientific progress. Granted at current levels Chines might not be able to afford SUVs in every driveway but they can afford to spend on centrally funded programs. As you said there are 4 times many Chinese thus if you want to spend 100 million on a mission every Chines just needs to afford 10 cents but every american needs to afford 40 cents. Larger population is generally an advantage given similar levels of education. Moreover while the Chinese GDP might be 7 trillion on paper everyone knows the Chinese currency is artificially lower by 20% so in real terms it is already larger than the US GDP. Things like space exploration are a kind of national luxury and they are affordable based on the whole GDP and not GDP percapita. After all their is only 1 NASA and 1 CNSA. Even not considering the exchange rates your argument about US remaining ahead falls apart as China is growing faster 9% compared to 4% . According to WB and IMF projections Chinese GDP will overtake US GDP by 2015 and by 2050 GDP per capita too will overtake US GDP. This is assuming no major wars. Given that the US is currently stuck in an expensive war which may drag down growth these points may be reached earlier. Its already becoming obvious that the US is no longer as attractive as before. Just look at the number of foreign students who stay on in the US. Earlier most foreign students would never go back to their countries as the US had the leading industry and the best opportunities but nowadays more and more Chinese and Korean students go back as opportunities at home are equal or better than in the US. So their really is no place for complacency

Re:When's a private company going to the moon?

[demachina]

"This is why establishing a firm foothold in LEO (ISS) is pretty important."

You deserve a rant since you keep saying that somehow the ISS is important in going to the Moon or Mars. It simply isn't. Its not going to be used to assemble spacecraft in space, nor is it going to be used to refuel them. I REALLY doubt any mission to the Moon or Mars would ever waste the energy to rendevous with it.

Get over it the ISS was a waste of $100 billion dollars and you aren't going to be able to dream your way out of it. If all that time and money had gone in to affordable launch vehicles (and I would be way happy with just building updated Saturn V's) we would be on the Moon again already. Saturn V's were pricey in their day but versus the $1.3 billion total average cost of a Shuttle launch they are almost cheap.