U.S.-China Space Alliance Urged

Wired ^

[maui_hawaii]

The United States should work on joint space projects with China, which is preparing to send its first person into space, the China chief of U.S. aerospace company Boeing said. China is working on becoming the third nation to undertake manned spaceflight, and many analysts believe the mission could blast off around the country's October 1 National Day.

[maui_hawaii]

"We really think it is a matter of NASA and what they want to do,"

NASA my @ss! NASA has (or should have) no say.

How about "the Pentagon"...

-- our hands are tied

Yeah. Sure. Whatever.

Corporate America (especially those in the unique position with China such as Lockheed and a few others) tend to undertake their own foreign policy.

It tends to contradict the law though.

[RightWhale]

By all means America and China should link up space programs. But leave NASA to whatever rubber room of incoherency it's in now and start a new agency.

[At _War_With_Liberals]

Since they can do it for 1/10th the cost, let them handle the space program. We can supply government appointed advisors and experts to tell the Chinese what to do.

[Brett66]

Let's make them responsible for space shuttle operations, that way it's no big deal if they burn up their astronauts in the atmosphere.

[Shermy]

Cover story for technology transfers.

[Sabertooth]

We really think it is a matter of NASA and what they want to do," David Wang, president of Boeing China, told reporters. "Until NASA feels the U.S. should cooperate with China on space -- and I think they should, the time has come -- our hands are tied," Wang said. "But we are certainly very interested," he said.

Yeah, let's help China with ballistic missile and satellite technology some more.

[maui_hawaii]

By all means America and China should link up space programs.

Are you kidding me?

If we teach them to launch rockets into space they will also be able to launch one to...wherever... and/or proliferate that technology like they always have been doing.

That stuff is the ultimate dual use technology.

I wonder how much of our military prowess resulted from space related technology...

[maui_hawaii]

Thats exactly what a lot of these companies want.

To hell with them.

Play with fire and you are going to get burned...

[RightWhale]

Are you kidding me?

No, not.

We'll probably learn as much as they do.

[maui_hawaii]

Yeah, let's help China with ballistic missile and satellite technology some more.

My point exactly.

This guy is funny. He claims 'our hands our tied'... when in reality his cohorts decided on their own that they will cooperate no matter what.

Thats a decision above their pay grade...but they do it anyway.

Doesn't it make you feel good that Congress can pass no law that corporate America can't break and get away with...

[maui_hawaii]

Since you are serious when you say that the US should cooperate I will be serious when I say that I completely disagree.

[maui_hawaii]

This is how things work. There are certain special elements that think we should do this or that... based on their own limited views....

Then they either A)lobby like hell for it (and buy off half of the Senate) or B) get impatient with the A) process and do it anyway...

Congress...law...yeah...what a joke. Both of them. Congress doesn't mean what it says half the time.

[KevinDavis]

My response would be Hell no!

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

[yooper]

Clinton started such an effort years ago......

[yooper]

"We can supply government appointed advisors and experts to tell the Chinese what to do."

Clinton already did that......

[LenS]

The heck with that!

We should be doing our best to sabotage their program. Space belongs to the US. Not to bloody Chicoms.

[Ronin]

I agree with Kevin. An alliance with the Chinese on this would be just what they need to pick our pockets of whatever secrets we have so far managed to conceal (there must be some) despite the best efforts of Clinton and Loral to give away the store.

Let's keep the Chinese as competitors. Despite any soft words from Chinese-linked PR firms, they have no doubt that we are THEIR competitors and treat us accordingly.

I am surprised at the stupidity of people for even suggesting this. Competition, national or otherwise, brings results.

[anymouse]

We will cooperate with China in space and elsewhere - the day after the ChiCom government falls, and not a day earlier.

[Paulie]

That would certainly be shooting ourselves in the foot, to say the least. Unfortunately, stratospheric public debt will force us to either do the deal or forgo any meaningful space program on our own, I predict.

The soccer Moms, et.al., won't support diverting monies from bottomless pit programs like 'education' into something so impractical as space exploration, and you can bet politicians will be more than willing to accomodate.

I really hope I'm wrong.

[irv]

I think this is a wonderful idea!

Make NASA a senior partner in the Chinese space program.

That should set them back at least 10 years. Maybe as much as 30.