Chinese Space Activities

I still don't think their LM-5 is going to be big enough.

R-56 at least!

That's where the Chinese ChangZheng-6 would come in straight after the LM-5, it would be a second generation Heavy ELV for Moon launches and deepspace trajectory injection ( 50-100 tonnes into LEO) and the building of Hainan Spaceport would see a Fourth and southernmost space center for Heavy ELVs.
There is some activity down there now,
Bush tried to send a US spy plane to look over the place in April of 2001 but China sent a military aircraft to confront the USA ( the Chinese pilot died ) and China grabbed 24 US crewmen but the Chinese released them after a whitehouse letter with a double-sorry.

Bit of a discussion on the Chinese program here:

http://www.spacedaily.com/reports/Fly_M ... _Moon.html

More here
http://www.space.com/news/ft_060331_nas ... gress.html

They think Chinese might beat us to Mars or the Moon or is this just a 'red-scare' ?

I'm thinking this is more red-scare.

Still, it might be a useful tool to keep us moving forward, though I'd prefer the cooperation rather than competition version of moving forward.

Using the whole 'fear' tactic is getting old. First there was the Soviet red scare, now there is the terrorism fear mongering, what's next?

- Alistair

I am reminded of the scene from Canadian Bacon and aliens

"They're coming to anally probe you " (Ok, thats not an actual quote, but its close enough)

Fear factor may be being used however perhaps not. Either way, the Chinese seem to be attracting a certain amount of attention on Capitol Hill:

http://www.space.com/news/ft_060331_nas ... gress.html

No, according to official plan
China will land a lunar sample returner in 2017
Sending people to it will be sometime after that
However, they may accelerate......Who knows?

Also, I think China will be amitted into the ISS programme after conducting successful docking between 2 Shenzhous

That is what they really want, but the US doesn't. They offered to participate in the ISS right after their first flight and were rebuffed.

Links:
http://www.spaceprojects.com/Chinese-sp ... ts2000.gif
http://www.newscientistspace.com/data/i ... -2_250.jpg
http://www.chinapage.com/space/cz-2f.jpg


http://www.ce.cn/kjwh/gengduo/200510/13 ... 1716.shtml
http://221.224.3.75/wangxiao/ReadNews.asp?NewsID=849
http://www.cnr.cn/zhuanti1/sz6h/kp/t200 ... 12328.html
http://www.gdmzzx.com/study/phy/yywl/index02.htm
http://www.chinanews.com.cn/news/2005/2 ... 6647.shtml
http://space.lamost.org/news/space%20station.htm
http://www.maomingdaily.com.cn/mmrb/b/b ... 140034.asp
http://www.whnet.edu.cn/NewsDetails.aspx?NewsId=510
http://news.sina.com.cn/2003-10-10/17061894759.shtml

I could see a Demodcratic or moderate Republican administration agreeing to invite the Chinese in. There is no way anyone associated with this administration would do it.

A simultaneous Shenzhous-CEV dock with the ISS might actually drive up public interest in going to the moon together. Then again, we'd have to reign in the fear-mongering / China-hating right wing.

- Alistair

The DNC seems to hate space. I already miss delay. I wish the DNC would lose its technophobia.

Rumor had it that Kerry would have shut NASA down.
What a traitor to JFK's vision.

Bill Richardson would be a pro-space Democrat. I think he might support Griffin.

1 - Dean and the general who ran for the Dem position both supported funding a Mars mission
2 - Bill Nelson flew on the shuttle, and very much has supported Nasa.

The DNC doesn't hate Nasa - the DNC hates Bush (after all, the guy is a crook). You won't get Dems to sign on to VSE because it has Bush's name on it. That doesn't mean we would can Nasa.

David Obey would. Kerry scared me. Look at his voting record with regard to space.

Bill Richardson or Bust.