First a man in orbit, now a space station?

[Turner]

Well, at least they're not setting their sights low.

China wants to have own space stationhttp://www1.chinadaily.com.cn/en/doc/2003-11/05/content_278716.htm

Fresh from putting an astronaut into orbit, top Chinese space officials on Tuesday set out three new targets, including a space station within 10 years.

Top space official Hu Shixiang told a Hong Kong news conference that China wants to achieve three new goals in the coming decade: a space station, a space walk and docking technology.

It was the first time China has disclosed a timetable for a space station. But China will not rush its program along like the Soviet and Americans did in their space race of the early 1960s, said Hu, deputy commander in chief of the manned space engineering headquarters.

Officials said China will work at its own pace. "It won't be like the space feud between America and the Soviet Union," agreed Wang Yongzhi, chief designer of China's manned space engineering program. .

"We need to find a path that matches China's situation," Hu added.

Another space official said on the weekend that China plans to send a probe to circle the moon in three to five years, and a follow-up to Yang's mission is planned in two years.

But China has no plans in place for a human moon landing, said Wang.

The Chinese space officials and Yang took questions from a group of invited Hong Kong editors Tuesday, near the end of a five-day tour of Hong Kong, where Yang has been received as a celebrity. The session was aired live on local television.

Hu dismissed criticism that as a developing nation, China's resources would be better spent on improving the plight of its millions of poor.

He said the space program, which is only a tenth of the U.S. space budget, is a worthwhile investment because it fosters social unity.

"This social effect cannot be measured by other things," Hu said.

Hu also revealed that officials had debated whether or not to broadcast the liftoff and landing of Yang's flight, but decided against it in case something went wrong.

"An entire nation would be worried," had Yang's craft landed outside the range of cameras, Hu said, adding a nationwide search for his capsule might not have been feasible.

Yang is set to leave Hong Kong on Wednesday to visit nearby Macau.

Personally, I hope they do it. Just like the privatization of space, the more competition, the better.

 

[Hitro]

Good that they have no serious problems, like feeding the people.

 

[Stapel]

Originally posted by Hitro
Good that they have no serious problems, like feeding the people.

Feeding the people is not a government's task. The government should create an infrastucture for it, and that's it!

An 'apollo program' is a government's thing.

Apart from that: not investing money in a space program, won't create and distribute food. A space program can be a very welcome stimulation to the Chinese economy, which will lead to a more self supporting agricultural economy.

Hitro, in the abortion thread, I accused you of overtaking Stoiber in the right lane. Now it seems you are overtaking Lafontaine in the left lane!

 

[Tassadar]

Docking technology seem to be a very hard challenge, only USSR realy achieve this technological breakthrough, NASA bought it from them after several year of unsuccesful trial. Thats why we have an international space station, the russian technology was needed to save lots of time and money. And they are the only one for now to supply ISS with man and goods.

Who said russian technology is crap ?

 

[Bozo Erectus]

A space station is ok I guess but I hope they dont waste any money on a giant albatross like the shuttle.

@ Tassadar Why is docking technology difficult to master? Isnt it basically just an airtight door like they have in submarines?

edit: oh, Im not thinking yet this morning. Of course its more complicated than that. They have to 'mate' the two vessels. Its alot more than a door.

 

[Tassadar]

Difficult operational scenarios include 1) docking a spacecraft when its thruster strengths are not well known, stuck or leaking, 2) docking a spacecraft whose mass property is not well known, 3) rendezvous and capturing a disabled spinning satellite, 4) docking a spacecraft to a spinning target, and (5) docking a spacecraft when some of its sensors become inoperable or fail. Operating a spacecraft under these conditions is a complex and dangerous task.

More from Nasa:http://ssrl.arc.nasa.gov/spacedock.html

I guess several other problem like temperature dilatation and vacum proof as well as appropriate alloy is involve. Not easy to find the answer, it is top secret technology, share only within USA and Russia, i dont think Europeen space agency know all about that.

 

[Aphex_Twin]

One would say they have learned from the mistakes of ESA, NASA & Co. and not try to build a SS of their own. How is the ISS named behind it's back? "The world's most expensive hotel room". Must be a pride thing...

 

[Bozo Erectus]

Originally posted by Tassadar
More from Nasa:http://ssrl.arc.nasa.gov/spacedock.html

Thanks Tassadar I notice the page uses the term 'neurocontrol'. Why not just say AI? Maybe theyre afraid of conjuring up the image of Hal from 2001?

 

[Tassadar]

I thought ''neurocontrol" was meaning a '' human with a joystick" , i bet that was the russian breakthrough

 

[Ossric]

the Russians gained a lot of experience during their time with MIR. I saw a documentary once about the US & Russian space program. The US was always throwing billions of dollars at programs to fix some pescy problems that they encounterd in space while the Russians with all their money problems came up with unbelievably simple solutions because they had to be resoursefull & inventif due to a lack of funds. I really enjoyed that docu. If only i could find some written info about it on the net...

 

[Hitro]

Originally posted by Stapel
Feeding the people is not a government's task. The government should create an infrastucture for it, and that's it!

An 'apollo program' is a government's thing.

Liberal hypocrisy.

Why is an "apollo program" a government's thing? Because the free market wouldn't supply it because of being unprofitable?
Well, if that is so then wouldn't the "logical" conclusion be, in the (European) liberal sense, that it shouldn't be done at all?

Why is shooting people into space more needed (against the market's rules) than a sufficient food supply?

Apart from that: not investing money in a space program, won't create and distribute food. A space program can be a very welcome stimulation to the Chinese economy, which will lead to a more self supporting agricultural economy.

And maybe an asteriod hits San Francisco on Thursday.
A space program like that is, primarily and by a large margin above all other things, a matter of propaganda. Stimulating the economy can be done much better by other means given the same amount of money input.

Military spending can, in theory, also stimulate the economy to some degree. But that doesn't justify wasting huge parts of the budget only on that. And as North Korea (economically) doesn't need the huge army it has China also has more important things to worry about than a space program.
Unless, of course, you value the propagandistic aspect of it higher than I do.

Hitro, in the abortion thread, I accused you of overtaking Stoiber in the right lane. Now it seems you are overtaking Lafontaine in the left lane!

Well, there was some guy with a caravan and a yellow license plate on the right lane...

 

[Pongui]

Originally posted by Ossric
the Russians with all their money problems came up with unbelievably simple solutions because they had to be resoursefull & inventif due to a lack of funds.

Like sending up an ordinary fur-lined parka and standard wiring tools when the heater broke down.

The Chinese excel at finding cheap solutions. This will be the VW van of space stations, and I can think of a dozen countries - including my own - that might buy one at the right price. If Canada can export nuclear reactors, then China can export space stations.

 

[Gothmog]

Can't resist, must post lyrics to 'whitey on the moon'

A rat done bit my sister Nell.
(with Whitey on the moon)
Her face and arms began to swell.
(and Whitey's on the moon)
I can't pay no doctor bill.
(but Whitey's on the moon)
Ten years from now I'll be payin' still.
(while Whitey's on the moon)
The man jus' upped my rent las' night.
('cause Whitey's on the moon)
No hot water, no toilets, no lights.
(but Whitey's on the moon)
I wonder why he's uppi' me?
('cause Whitey's on the moon?)
I wuz already payin' 'im fifty a week.
(with Whitey on the moon)
Taxes takin' my whole damn check,
Junkies makin' me a nervous wreck,
The price of food is goin' up,
An' as if all that **** wuzn't enough:
A rat done bit my sister Nell.
(with Whitey on the moon)
Her face an' arm began to swell.
(but Whitey's on the moon)
Was all that money I made las' year
(for Whitey on the moon?)
How come there ain't no money here?
(Hmm! Whitey's on the moon)
Y'know I jus' 'bout had my fill
(of Whitey on the moon)
I think I'll sen' these doctor bills,
Airmail special
(to Whitey on the moon)

 

[Oruc]

im not sure if this is true but, i heard that NASA spent alot of money to make a Pen that worked in space and the russian solution was a pencil, heard it on the tv by the way

 

[andrewgprv]

Good for China! We should all have an investment in space technology. It is the new frontier for the human race.

 

[Archer 007]

Originally posted by emu
im not sure if this is true but, i heard that NASA spent alot of money to make a Pen that worked in space and the russian solution was a pencil, heard it on the tv by the way

Im pretty sure that was an urban legend. I did think about it in relation to Ossric's post though.

 

[Turner]

Check out This link for the scoop on NASA developing a pen for space. . .

 

[Knight-Dragon]

Good for mankind! Any kind of 'progress' or 'incentive' to spur up human advancement into outer space is always a good thing IMO.

 

[Riesstiu IV]

Chinese seem to have a very high priority for space these days. Too bad America's space program has crippled badly after the second shuttle explosion.

 

[rilnator]

So what do these space stations do exactly (except for orbit the earth)? Is it just a prestige thing?