[RightWhale]

The lights in China are turning on. Political stability isn't their strong suit, so they need to modernize quickly to have a chance of success. If they can make the leap to space development the problems with their home base won't be so important; space development can be made self-supporting, possible but not easy.

[Magnum44]

Political stability isn't their strong suit, so they need to modernize quickly to have a chance of success.

But history is showing, and evidence is continuing to support the notions that non-free market, non-open societies can not modernize at the rate of their free-market counterparts. The chinese leadership is caught between opposing goals, that of maintaining central control and bringing the country into the modern world. It can not accomplish both at the same time.

For this reason alone, they will never be the super power they envision themselves to be.

As for space development becoming self supporting, you'll have to explain that one to me. The commercial world is such, but just barely and it is highly competitive. So far, and for the near future, no other space ventures succeed with strong national interest and government funding.

[Magnum44]

So far, and for the near future, no other space ventures succeed with strong national interest and government funding.

So far, and for the near future, no other space ventures succeed without strong national interest and government funding.

I seem to be all thumbs with the key board today.