China to launch manned spacecraft in June

[Tank]

China to launch manned spacecraft in June

China will launch a spacecraft this month to conduct its first manned space docking, state media said Saturday, the latest step in a plan aimed at giving the country a permanent space station by 2020.

China may not be the fastest but it is determined and resourceful.

[markmcdaniel]

Hopefully this will serve as a wake up call for the American space program.

[Siz]

Competition seems to be the major motivator for space travel. And while progress IS being made, do we think that should be encouraged, Mark?

I'm sure most of us wish the determined and resourceful Chinese luck and continued progress. This is certainly a praiseworthy achievement (assuming its successful) and I don't want to take anything away from them. But it's still terminally near-sighted of all space agencies not to be colluding. Dividing the collective human financial resources dedicated to shooting for the same goal is pretty immature of a race hoping for expansion into the solar system and beyond. Take a step back people and see how ridiculously counterprogressive this is. National pride over self preservation!? How very Human!

Now tell me there's hope for the human species... Sheesh, I just wanna bang their heads together.

[markmcdaniel]

Competition seems to be the major motivator for space travel. And while progress IS being made, do we think that should be encouraged, Mark?

I'm sure most of us wish the determined and resourceful Chinese luck and continued progress. This is certainly a praiseworthy achievement (assuming its successful) and I don't want to take anything away from them. But it's still terminally near-sighted of all space agencies not to be colluding. Dividing the collective human financial resources dedicated to shooting for the same goal is pretty immature of a race hoping for expansion into the solar system and beyond. Take a step back people and see how ridiculously counterprogressive this is. National pride over self preservation!? How very Human!

Now tell me there's hope for the human species... Sheesh, I just wanna bang their heads together.

I agree with much that you are saying. There is much to be said for competition though. It may be wasteful. but it can and does produce spectacular results. Until such a time that nations are able to put collective interests ahead of national interests the competitive model is the one we must use.

[Firebird]

China actually did try to be a part of the International Space Station, but was turned down due to objects from the US. Whether they were legitimate objections, I don't know. But I agree with Mark here, competition is good. It's the reason we got off our asses and went to the moon.

[Tank]

China actually did try to be a part of the International Space Station, but was turned down due to objects from the US. Whether they were legitimate objections, I don't know. But I agree with Mark here, competition is good. It's the reason we got off our asses and went to the moon.

The Chinese mind set is not as competitive as the American mind set. China marches to its own drumbeat, it always has and it probably always will. If the Chinese think there is value in something they will do it, if not they won't. The really don't care what anybody else does or thinks.

[Siz]

NASA are forbidden by law to engage in technical exchanges with Beijing and this was the stumbling block. And while it is possible for Congress to pass exceptions they declined to do so. The two parties are currently in 'discussions' to resolve the roadblock. Meanwhile, as technical details of the docking mechanisms and other systems were kept secret from China, none of the hardware is compatible for any future collaboration. EDIT: This refers to the ISS.

I'm thinking 'cutting off your nose to spite your face'.

I understand that competition was a motivator in previous specific endeavours. It is no secret that safety and protocol were overlooked in the interest of national pride in the race to the moon. This irresponsible attitude doesn't create forward-looking science and technology. It blinkeredly fulfils a very confined brief with no consideration of cost or sustainability.

A dedicated collaborative effort not only pools resources but eliminates detrimental vanity.

[markmcdaniel]

The problem with technical exchanges is that such exchanges wind up being used by Chinese industry.

[Siz]

The problem with technical exchanges is that such exchanges wind up being used by Chinese industry.

Why is that a problem?

Exchange means... exchange. Is the US so arrogant as to assume they have nothing to learn from the Chinese?

[Guardian85]

Why is that a problem?

Exchange means... exchange. Is the US so arrogant as to assume they have nothing to learn from the Chinese?

Have you met any americans lately? 

[Crow]

The problem with technical exchanges is that such exchanges wind up being used by Chinese industry.

What else you going to export, its not like you can export manufacturing to the Chinese. Besides China has a better relationship with Russia (who help NASA astronauts to the ISS by the way) so I wouldn't be surprised if they ignored America all together. They don't really need America for technical exchange as they are investing like crazy in the sciences, engineering, and design at the moment plus China have probably the best reverse engineering capabilities going.

[Sweetdeath]

Why is that a problem?

Exchange means... exchange. Is the US so arrogant as to assume they have nothing to learn from the Chinese?

Have you met any americans lately? 

Yup. Americans are just as bad with pride, only Chinese at least have brain power to back it up.

[Firebird]

The problem with technical exchanges is that such exchanges wind up being used by Chinese industry.

What else you going to export, its not like you can export manufacturing to the Chinese. Besides China has a better relationship with Russia (who help NASA astronauts to the ISS by the way) so I wouldn't be surprised if they ignored America all together. They don't really need America for technical exchange as they are investing like crazy in the sciences, engineering, and design at the moment plus China have probably the best reverse engineering capabilities going.

Yes, but they're all sending their kids to schools in the US to learn all that engineering. We still have all the knowledge and a better higher education system, as well as a better system for harnessing that knowledge into a product within industry. Imagine if we gave those PhD's from China an automatic green card; how many of them would actually go back? That right there is a lost opportunity.
Mark makes a very valid point. China doesn't give a shit about any kind of patent protection, and will steal other people's research and ideas as much as they possibly can. They're constantly attempting to hack into our government and private computers to steal knowledge that they can use. Like it or not, China and the US are frienemies and have to be wary of each other.

Yup. Americans are just as bad with pride, only Chinese at least have brain power to back it up.

I completely disagree with this. Who invented the internet, Facebook, Apple, the space shuttle, the Dragon Capsule that just went to the IIS, etc? The Chinese have great potential, but also a long way to go before they catch up with the US, and that's only if the population they exploit and repress doesn't rise up at some point.

[Sweetdeath]

The problem with technical exchanges is that such exchanges wind up being used by Chinese industry.

What else you going to export, its not like you can export manufacturing to the Chinese. Besides China has a better relationship with Russia (who help NASA astronauts to the ISS by the way) so I wouldn't be surprised if they ignored America all together. They don't really need America for technical exchange as they are investing like crazy in the sciences, engineering, and design at the moment plus China have probably the best reverse engineering capabilities going.

Yes, but they're all sending their kids to schools in the US to learn all that engineering. We still have all the knowledge and a better higher education system, as well as a better system for harnessing that knowledge into a product within industry. Imagine if we gave those PhD's from China an automatic green card; how many of them would actually go back? That right there is a lost opportunity.
Mark makes a very valid point. China doesn't give a shit about any kind of patent protection, and will steal other people's research and ideas as much as they possibly can. They're constantly attempting to hack into our government and private computers to steal knowledge that they can use. Like it or not, China and the US are frienemies and have to be wary of each other.

Yup. Americans are just as bad with pride, only Chinese at least have brain power to back it up.

I completely disagree with this. Who invented the internet, Facebook, Apple, the space shuttle, the Dragon Capsule that just went to the IIS, etc? The Chinese have great potential, but also a long way to go before they catch up with the US, and that's only if the population they exploit and repress doesn't rise up at some point.

Bill gates has done a lot, but all those parts are probably built in China.
not to mention Japan is ahead of us by two decades in technology. So..

[Siz]

The Chinese have great potential, but also a long way to go before they catch up with the US

OMFG. The US propaganda machine has worked its magic on you... why is it that its only the Americans who believe that?