China's space challenge

washington times ^ | 10/23/03 | Edward Hudgins

[KevinDavis]

On Oct. 15, 2003, China joined the United States and Russia as a country capable of putting humans in space. The launch of that country's "taikonaut," Yang Liwei, harkened back to the launch on Oct. 4, 1957, by the Soviet Union of Sputnik, the first artificial Earth satellite, and on April 12, 1961, of Yuri Gagarin, the first man into space — both ahead of the United States.
Those events spurred America into a space race with the Russians that led to America's historic lunar landings. Today the U.S. government's reaction to China's challenge should not be a new space race and bigger NASA budgets. Rather, the United States should turn to private providers in a free market to open outer space to all humanity.

[KevinDavis]

Space Ping! This is the space ping list! Let me know if you want on or off this list!

[The Great RJ]

It seems insane that a nation that can't even give the majority of its people flush toilets and drinkable water will spend billions on going into space. Ditto for countries like India and Pakistan for doing the same with their nuclear weapons development.

While some offered the same arguement here in the 1960's about the US space program, I seem to recall that the US standard of living in those days for most peole was far better than enjoyed by the average Chinese today.

[irv]

Space travel is a symbol of modernity at its best.

Space travel isn't a "symbol." It's a concrete step toward a technological, economic and cultural renaissance. Too many writers have treated it as a "symbol," a play for "national pride" rather than the very important work it is.

Sorry, but I get really tired of that.

[irv]

Thus, the Chinese achievement reminds us of three decades of lost opportunities.

Exactly on point.

[Frank_Discussion]

It's seemingly insane, but countries on a war footing sometimes do this dort of thing. Perhaps this could lend an insight on their views of space utilization, and their seriousness.

[r9etb]

It seems insane that a nation that can't even give the majority of its people flush toilets and drinkable water will spend billions on going into space. Ditto for countries like India and Pakistan for doing the same with their nuclear weapons development.

You need to broaden your view of why they'd do this. It's a national pride/national identity sort of thing. The general idea would be for the average Joe (or whatever is Chinese for Joe) to be able to sa that "we put somebody into orbit."

Whether it will have a lasting effect remains to be seen. But that's pretty much the point of their manned space program.