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Chinese, European Space Agencies In Talks To Build a Moon Base (techcrunch.com)
ESA's Pal Hvistendahl has confirmed via Bloomberg that Chinese and European space agencies are talking with one another about plans to build a base on the moon. The discussions "involve working together to build a human-occupied 'moon village' from which both agencies can potentially launch Mars missions, conduct research, and possibly explore commercial mining and tourism projects," reports TechCrunch. From the report: China's upcoming projects in space include a mission to collect samples from the moon via an uncrewed craft by the end of this year, and to also launch an exploratory mission to the far side of the moon next year, with the similar aim of returning samples for study. The ESA's collaboration with China thus far include participating in the study of those returned samples, and potentially sending a European astronaut to the Chinese space station (which is currently unoccupied) at some future date.
Seriously?
It seems obvious that will come one day or the other. Just watch 2001: A Space Odyssey
Everything I write is lies, read between the lines.
You don't want to go to the far side of the moon and we all know why.
Space exploration is both dangerous and expensive. By working together it will save on costs and reduce the dangers inherent with building 2 separate things. The americans stuffed up by not letting the chinese work with them on the ISS.... but at the same time they allowed the russians... wtf?
Interestingly, while the chinese and americans don't cooperate on the ISS, the chinese can dock with the ISS because the interlocks were built by the russians for their Soyuz rockets which the chinese use too so who knows maybe one day the chinese space station and the ISS or its replacement will join up too. But probably not the ISS since its old and probably infested with superbugs like the previous space station.
A breath of fresh air.
In economics and policy Trump has destroyed the US and given world leadership to China.
You gonna see more of that, "USA First", and all others say "Sure".
There has been a slow, but steadily increasing approach between China and Europe for the last couple of decades, in many ways: trade agreements, Chinese interest in European education and scientific development, even what could be the first, tenuous signs of political alignment. One of the reasons, in my view, is simply that Europe isn't the US - America has for many years employed a very aggressive rhetoric against China, where Europe has been more moderate, and it does seem to have left a lasting impression. On that background, I don't think it is at all surprising that they will build a Moon base together. I think it is great that China shows leadership and determination in this hugely important area; sure, it stings a bit that we in the West aren't in the lead, but I'm sure the Chinese will allow America to take part, when they are ready to commit to it.
The US has spent decades keeping China closed out from space. The "International Space Station" is really the "Anyone except China Space Station".
Its possible that this new development may end up turning that on its head -- the US won't work with China in Space, but just as much as China can't join any US-led project, it also means that the US will not be able to join in any Chinese project. If the Europeans and others are joining those projects, the US is going to find themselves out in the cold.
The US has been very dogmatic about that rule, but I wonder how long they're going to be able to hold on it if everyone else is collaborating?
This is true. The US has burned some bridges with it's foreign policy regarding China. But, before we lament what that means for future opportunities, it's worth recalling why; from the outright theft of IP, to humanitarian concerns regarding political prisoners, religious persecution, Tibet, freedom of navigation in the Global Commons that is the South China Sea, and including their tolerance for the North Korean situation. China may become a player in space exploration, that's unavoidable at this point, but that doesn't mean the US should regret the hard lines it's taken over the years.
Why wasting money, energy and time there?
Europe doesn't like Chinese taking control, so they quit
Now when we go to the moon we will need to build a wall to keep out the chinks, wops, and dagos.
Better ask the British for permission first.
The S.H.A.D.O. maintains a MoonBase as one of its first lines of defence against UFOs. This MoonBase is located in the Sea of Tranquillity and is in constant communication with the S.I.D., or Space Intruder Detector, and three interceptors are maintained there in a state of almost-constant standby.
still enjoy that old game
Put down the crack pipe.
The International Space Station cost $150 billion. A moon base could cost ten times more than that.
Your feelings and reading a "feel good" article aren't going to make a moon base happen.
seeing the EU and China colaborate so closely on this, is NOT in the interest of the U.S., and with everything we've learned from the recent NSA and CIA fallout, China and the EU must assume the worst and secure all systems in order to avoid spying, breach of your systems, and even sabotage and the loss of equipment and life.
On the moon we're going to build a YMCA!!!!!!! He he he; exclaimed the hardhat guy.
Before they start throwing rocks at us.
Hopefully they will not fall back to earth ....
We are so far away from a "moon base" it is ridiculous. Simply supplying it would be a nightmare. Never might actually getting there, never mind actually constructing something, never mind about a million other things... I don't see it happening in my lifetime.
They figure out how to deal with the abrasive moon dust? What are the advantages of a moon base vs an orbiting space station?
At least the EU and the PRC are putting all that money they saved on the International (sic) Space Station that the US paid the lion share for and are putting it to good use.
All Your Bases Are Belong to Us!
There's going to be a nuclear accident that blows the Moon out of orbit with the Earth. We have to get that Moon Base up and running before that happens!
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0072564/?ref_=nv_sr_1
Otherwise we won't get the Eagle spaceships. And I want an Eagle spaceship.