"Soon we will land on the moon". Outline of China's Aerospace Development Program.

CPP20011204000017 Beijing Jiefangjun Bao ^ | 03 Dec 2001 | Article by Zuo Saichun

[GreenLanternCorps]

I Care!!!!

Space is the next frontier and if want a space race, let's get it on. It's high time we humans got out of the cradle and started exploring our neighborhood. If the Chinese explorers serve to wake up Americans about the decrepit state of our space program, and get us back to the moon, then GOOD!

[RightWhale]

dont be mad cause china is making progress

We're not mad at China! If they get to the moon good for them. We're disappointed in our own politicians who can't see beyond the horizon of their next election campaign. The sun is warming, earth won't be habitable with or without fossil fuels for much longer. We have to get moving or what is the point of being sentient beings?

[DoctorMichael]

............did they say anything about getting back.............

Kinda ambitious, I'd say. These little clowns are gonna get someone killed. Maybe we ought to remind them by way of the ALIEN slogan: "In space no one can hear you scream".

[spoiler2]

"what are they going to do when they get there?"

Why claim it as China's moon, no less, and establish a military base to fend off any other countries' approach, and a burgeoning Chinese population, to ease congestion in Beijing.

Somehow, looking up at the moon, will no longer feel the same.

[Truthsayer20]

Some of the comments on this thread remind me of the common American perception before WW2 that the Japanese could never build a modern fighter aircraft let alone fly them successfully against American pilots.

[RightWhale]

Kinda ambitious

Yeah. The American Way is to do it and not waste everybody's time with talk about what you're going to do. In the meantime, though, we ought to hire a few draftsmen and start building spaceship parts and get moving before we get overrun by all those people we left in the dust many years ago.

[bert]

I consider this to be good news. To all the China bashers out there , get over it.

A little competition is good. A friendly rivalry is better than a military rivalry. I would think it is good for both sides.

[RightWhale]

good news

More power to them. But it isn't fresh news. It's the anniversary of when it was fresh news. What we expect imminently is the final test launch of their manned spacecraft before they launch for real with a couple of exceedingly brave taikonauts. Once they have a successful manned launch in the books, look out!

[spoiler2]

"A friendly rivalry is better than a military rivalry."

What makes you think that this is friendly rivalry? Once they establish a military base up there, there will be no getting rid of the threat.

What threat? The one that turns the moon into a giant orbiting satellite, with launch bases for nuke rockets aimed at US, or anyone else that steps out of line!

Our present "star wars" technology is based on the concept of lateral missile trajectories, actross the surface of the earth, not incoming missiles, coming straight down at us.

We'd better get back up there quick and establish an outpost, or we'll regret it big time!

[adx]

dont be mad cause china is making progress, this kind of hating is why the world is not a better place. america has already been to the moon and back so who cares if the chinese do. i dont...

What will you say when you and yours are on the business end of a lunar mass driver?

[spoiler2]

BTTT

[VOA]

Getting there alive is one step. Getting back alive is another

you beat me to the punch...

[spoiler2]

I agree completely.

China never does anything from a friendly, competetive basis.

When they speak of establishing a base for exploration, we should read between the lines here and see that they will dominate the Moon for military purposes, not just go looking for fossils!

[M Kehoe]

Thank you Mr. Clinton.

Thank you Loral. Thank you Bernie. Thank you Ron Brown.

Thanks DNC.

I just hope the east coast is out of range.

5.56mm

[bert]

What makes you think that this is friendly rivalry......

I have no evidence that it would be otherwise.

Chinese actions are defensive, not agressive outside their hegemonic area.

Nixon agreed to Chineese hegemony and there has been peace in the area since. Taiwan may be at risk but I think the problems will be resolved peacefully. It remains to be seen if the Chineese will reign in North Korea. My guess is that the deal has been made and at some point arms will be twisted in Ponyang and all will simmer down.

Regarding fortifying the moon, perhaps. I have no reason to believe that is in the cards. China has so many internal problems that I place low probability on agression outside their turf.

[mass55th]

"Soon we will land on the moon."

Don't forget to send a postcard once you learn how to write!

[Buffalo Head]

"....common American perception before WW2 that the Japanese could never build a modern fighter aircraft let alone fly them successfully against American pilots."

Do you know what the AVG kill ratio was between P-40's and Oscars or the Navy's kill ratio between Hellcats and Zero's? Some of those post war Americans had pretty good perception.

[bert]

...China never does anything from a friendly, competetive basis....

OK, perhaps I was overly optimistic. I meant a competitive state in the absence of deadly, verge of war mindset that was the case with the Soviet Union.

Relative to a state of cold war, It would be friendly.

[spoiler2]

Traditional, Earth-based hegemony is one thing, but allow the Chinese to get to the Moon and establish a base of operations, when we have none......

well as they say, "this changes everything"

If there was ever a need to establish a Moon base, it looks like we are looking at one. Their establishing a military base on the Moon would be more a "point of control" than outright aggression.

[Joe Hadenuf]

Ten or fifteen years from now, when we look up at the moon and realize that the Chinese are up there, how are we gonna feel?

We should have had a permanent manned scientific research center/observatory on the lunar surface 20 years ago.

Meanwhile many in American are doing the chicken over cross burnings and what some big government bozo said at a birthday party, while our big government winks at millions walking into our country illegally, while our high tech positions are replaced by McJobs.