OT: They did it!

Atrocities · #1 October 15th, 2003, 03:28 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Loser:
http://www.cnn.com/2003/TECH/space/1...nch/index.html

Whoo-hoo!

The Chinese are in space!

The chinese conquest of the world has begun.

Thermodyne · #2 October 15th, 2003, 05:05 PM

Let�s look at this for what it is. The Chicoms have proven that they can borrow technology and build a platform to put a man in space. And for this I congratulate them, but I am only a little impressed. They have also proven that they are willing to pay the expense of venturing into space. Where they will go with this remains to be seen. They are certainly working it for all of the political capital that they can squeeze out of it. They need to publish some papers on their goals and expected returns. To just repeat the successes of the Soviets and Americans will be a waste of time.

If the Chicom�s want to impress the world, then they should hold free elections, open to all of China. Now that would impress me!

Baron Munchausen · #3 October 15th, 2003, 06:12 PM

If this wakes up the US Congress to NASA's need for proper funding and direction then it's a great thing. The space agency has been in the doldrums since the end of Apollo. We need a big push to develop a truly re-usable space vehicle so it can be released to commercial uses. There are plenty of good technologies available. It's been 30 years since the creation of the shuttle! We can do much, much better if we just have some motivation in the govt. to pay for the initial development. No private industry group is willing to spend the necessary billions on something they might not be allowed to exploit commercially.

geoschmo · #4 October 15th, 2003, 06:22 PM

Actually there are several companies and smaller research outfits working on commercial methods of reaching orbit. I honestly believe that is the key to the future exploitation of space. NASA can't do any long term planning when the agency is funded on a year to year basis. That isn't likely to change in the near future.

narf poit chez BOOM · #5 October 15th, 2003, 07:04 PM

hopefully, the competition can help. i wanna real space habitat!

gregebowman · #6 October 15th, 2003, 09:14 PM

Well, if NASA wants to make a profit, they should realize that they have to open the heavens to us civilians. I'd like to see a 2001: A Space Oddysey style space station in the future that can be like a hotel in space; not the scientific contraption they're building now. If some people are willing to pay $20 million to go into space, imagine the money NASA can make if they would make a space hotel and charge a few thousand bucks for the privilege of spending a few nights there. I'd scrounge up the dough somehow.

Then they need a new space vehicle. For as much money as a shuttle costs, you would think they could have come up with a more sturdy design.

I'd also like to see us colonize the moon. Even if they can't find enough ice there, they can build some Saturn V size boosters and launch water to the moon. From what I've read, that's the major stumbling block for this endeavor. But I bet if they could find a big enough vein of gold or platinum or uranium, an effort could be made to settle the moon. With over 6 billion people living on the earth, we definitely need to expand our horizons and create living spaces on the moon and maybe Mars.

Also, I'd like to see NASA explore the possibility of mining all of those asteroids that are out there. I'm sure there's a tremendous amount of raw material that can be extracted and utilized.

But will any of this happen in my lifetime? I doubt it, unless some horrible need arizes that will force us to do such things.

Loser · #7 October 16th, 2003, 01:12 AM

http://www.cnn.com/2003/TECH/space/1...nch/index.html

Whoo-hoo!

The Chinese are in space!

oleg · #8 October 16th, 2003, 01:50 AM

I hope it will promote more funding to NASA.
Its budget just $14B. War in Irag could fund NASA for 7 years

General Woundwort · #9 October 16th, 2003, 01:53 AM

NASA's problem is it has no long-term goals, and doesn't even have a plan yet to replace the Shuttles when they wear out (sooner rather than later). NASA needs to make a case to do and be something other than a "US postal service" to Earth orbit, if they want more money.

oleg · #10 October 16th, 2003, 04:24 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by gregebowman:
...I'd also like to see us colonize the moon. Even if they can't find enough ice there, they can build some Saturn V size boosters and launch water to the moon. From what I've read, that's the major stumbling block for this endeavor. But I bet if they could find a big enough vein of gold or platinum or uranium, an effort could be made to settle the moon. With over 6 billion people living on the earth, we definitely need to expand our horizons and create living spaces on the moon and maybe Mars.

...

Moon has one perspective mineral practically absent on Earth : He3
here is just one link:
http://www.asi.org/adb/02/09/he3-intro.html
He3 is the best source of fussion material.
He3+De->He4+H reaction has a very high yield and is clean since there are no neutrons and gamma-radiation. Eventually, it should become the optimal source for interplanetary or even interstellar travel (no need for heavy radiation shielding). Even if it will prove too costly as an energy source for Earth, I imagine Moon station as a major terminal for future space exploration.

[ October 16, 2003, 15:26: Message edited by: oleg ]