Chinese Space Station Launched, or about to be launched?

[Yazman]

So I've read in a few places lately about a planned Chinese space station, saw something about it on the front page of wikipedia as well. I can't seem to find any real english-language media coverage of it though which strikes me as particularly strange given the importance of such a launch. Maybe the lack of coverage is just because it's Chinese, and we all know the "evil red china" is the BIG BOGEYMAN COMING TO GET US! Right?

All I could find was this:

http://www.spacedaily.com/reports/China_to_launch_unmanned_space_module_by_Sept_30_9 99.html

It seems this is yet another step for the Chinese space program. Does anybody know how far back their program goes? Were they doing anything during the 60s and 70s at all? It seems they have just recently begun some real serious stuff, with long-term goals of manned missions to the Moon and eventually Mars (So I've seen Chinese spokesmen quoted as saying, at least).

Two things here:

1. What does everybody think about the launching of this space station, particularly in relation to the International Space Station's impending demise (with plans to de-orbit the ISS within the next 10 years or so)? Also what do you think it says about the Chinese space program (if anything)?

2. Does anybody know much about the history of the Chinese space program and how far back it goes?

[Tablo]

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I also remember reading a couple of news articles about it. I will see if I can find them.


1. What does everybody think about the launching of this space station, particularly in relation to the International Space Station's impending demise (with plans to de-orbit the ISS within the next 10 years or so)? Also what do you think it says about the Chinese space program (if anything)?
I think it is a very positive thing. I have high hopes for the Chinese space program. They seem to be the main country really seriously focusing on space exploration atm.


2. Does anybody know much about the history of the Chinese space program and how far back it goes?
I think they had their first manned launch in 2003.. or something like that. I'm pretty clueless, but I know they are advancing rapidly.

[TheGodlessUtopian]

Manned missions to Mars?...wouldn't that be something! Seems unlikely though.Isn't to say that I think it is impossible but just very surreal to think if such a thing is possible anytime soon.

[Q]

The Chinese space program can be traced back to the late 1950's (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_space_program) and was an offshoot of their nuclear arms race. After decades of little progress, things seem to have gone into a higher gear the last decade or so.

[Smyg]

I highly approve.

[CommieTroll]

What's that? China is taking over the world?.........:laugh:

[Yazman]

The Chinese space program can be traced back to the late 1950's (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_space_program) and was an offshoot of their nuclear arms race. After decades of little progress, things seem to have gone into a higher gear the last decade or so.

Really? I didn't realise. For some reason I had the impression they began in the 90s and kicked into high gear this past decade.


Manned missions to Mars?...wouldn't that be something! Seems unlikely though.Isn't to say that I think it is impossible but just very surreal to think if such a thing is possible anytime soon.

Yeah, as eager as the Chinese space agency seems to be in having that as a long-term goal I can't see it happening within the next 20 years. Sadly, I imagine it will be a good 30-40 years at least before we see humans on Mars. Hopefully my pessimism turns out to be wrong in this regard.

[Nox]

Best of luck to them, it does seem like the future of space exploration is going to be in the hands of China.

[kitsune]

I was just reading about the successful launch of Tiangong-1 the other day. As part of the project there are two more unmanned launches planned and a manned launch. The next is in November, the following two next year. This is just for testing rendezvous and docking technology. They're planning on building a much bigger station in 2020.

China has some very ambitious plans. They've already launched a couple of lunar orbiters and have an unmanned lunar landing scheduled for 2013. Longer term the plan is to build a lunar base. Very exciting!

[piet11111]

Why are they getting rid of the ISS so soon ?

[Smyg]

Mr. Capitalist no like spending without profit.

[Q]

Manned missions to Mars?...wouldn't that be something! Seems unlikely though.Isn't to say that I think it is impossible but just very surreal to think if such a thing is possible anytime soon.
I could dig up this article (http://military.china.com/zh_cn/news/568/20060214/13091486.html) saying that an unmanned mission to Mars would happen somewhere in the window of 2014 and 2033 and a manned mission somewhere between 2040 and 2060. This is dependent on a Sun weather forecast system to be put in place on Lagrange point L1 by 2012 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_space_program#Mission_to_Mars_and_beyond).


Why are they getting rid of the ISS so soon ?
It is not that soon really. By 2020 the oldest component parts will be 22 years old. By comparison, Mir only flew 15 years from oldest component to its deorbit.

[socialistjustin]

I wish the world would get together on shit like this. Space affects usall and we would move ahead at a much faster pace working together.

[EvilRedGuy]

Best of luck to them, it does seem like the future of space exploration is going to be in the hands of China.

Yeah, good luck to the ruling class exploiting the proletariat so they can do useless space exploration for the benefit of the empire.


**** you. :confused:

[Smyg]

You have a very strange view on scientific development.

[EvilRedGuy]

How is it strange?

[Smyg]

"Useless space exploration". Heh.

[matevz91]

Guys, do you remember the idea of joint USSR-USA lunar program back in the 1963? Kennedy was talking about it and months before Kennedy was killed, Khrushchev actually started to like the idea. Anyway, many people in the USSR were against it, because they feared that USA will learn their secrets. If I remember correctly, only Chelomei considered it being useful for the Soviet side, because he thought that they would gain more from cooperation than the USA would. Korolyev, Yangel and others were strictly opposed.

Is such a thing possible nowadays between China and USA (and other countries)? I mean, we are no longer in the cold war and China has far better relations with USA than Soviet union ever had.

What about a joint Russia+China space program? Although that seems less likely than USA+China cooperation. Or European+China?

Just wondering...

[EvilRedGuy]

Yeah, ofcourse its possible for capitalist empires to come together and do useless nation-pride pseudo-useful technology and shit on workers making them pay more of there hard earned taxes. (Only rich should pay taxes ;) lol.)

Technology is not worth the proletarian time, after we have reached a advanced post-scarcity Communist(classless,stateless,moneyless,anti-currency,abolish private and personal property and collectivize everything) society we can start to implement USEFUL egalitarian-decided technology researching.

This isn't to improve worker's life or help them, its just useless exploiting-technology which destroys efficiency even more.

[kitsune]

Guys, do you remember the idea of joint USSR-USA lunar program back in the 1963? Kennedy was talking about it and months before Kennedy was killed, Khrushchev actually started to like the idea. Anyway, many people in the USSR were against it, because they feared that USA will learn their secrets. If I remember correctly, only Chelomei considered it being useful for the Soviet side, because he thought that they would gain more from cooperation than the USA would. Korolyev, Yangel and others were strictly opposed.

Is such a thing possible nowadays between China and USA (and other countries)? I mean, we are no longer in the cold war and China has far better relations with USA than Soviet union ever had.

What about a joint Russia+China space program? Although that seems less likely than USA+China cooperation. Or European+China?

Just wondering...

China and Russia are working together on the lunar exploration program, and on Mars exploration. The Yinghuo-1 probe (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yinghuo-1) is supposed to launch very soon.

[Smyg]

Yeah, ofcourse its possible for capitalist empires to come together and do useless nation-pride pseudo-useful technology and shit on workers making them pay more of there hard earned taxes. (Only rich should pay taxes ;) lol.)

Technology is not worth the proletarian time, after we have reached a advanced post-scarcity Communist(classless,stateless,moneyless,anti-currency,abolish private and personal property and collectivize everything) society we can start to implement USEFUL egalitarian-decided technology researching.

This isn't to improve worker's life or help them, its just useless exploiting-technology which destroys efficiency even more.

But the SCIENCE man, you can't just abandon the GLORIOUS SCIENCE.

[aristos]

Technology is not worth the proletarian time, after we have reached a advanced post-scarcity Communist(classless,stateless,moneyless,anti-currency,abolish private and personal property and collectivize everything) society we can start to implement USEFUL egalitarian-decided technology researching.


This is just bullshit. Most scientific research does not become practically useful until long after the fact. Very often practical appliances are developed as a mere side effect of research projects that had different aims to begin with. In short: good science demands plurality - one can never predict the true value of results.
As regarding space exploration one of the many useful practical applications has been, for example, the development of aeroponics, which could allow to feed humanity abundantly and resource-efficiently.
Another are weather and navigation satellites.

[Yazman]

Yeah, ofcourse its possible for capitalist empires to come together and do useless nation-pride pseudo-useful technology and shit on workers making them pay more of there hard earned taxes. (Only rich should pay taxes ;) lol.)

Technology is not worth the proletarian time, after we have reached a advanced post-scarcity Communist(classless,stateless,moneyless,anti-currency,abolish private and personal property and collectivize everything) society we can start to implement USEFUL egalitarian-decided technology researching.

This isn't to improve worker's life or help them, its just useless exploiting-technology which destroys efficiency even more.

Firstly while I think we all agree that private property should be abolished, I don't for a second agree that personal property should be abolished. In fact I view that notion as absurd at best.

Secondly I don't agree with such a conservative, utilitarian view of science. Such an outlook is incredibly stifling to societal and technological development, and I think aristos said it best when you can't always accurately or properly predict the value of results or research. Furthermore you don't seem to have even the most basic grasp of the value space-based research and exploration has had on the world - from communications to computing, transportation and even agriculture, there have been countless contributions and advances.

Keeping this in mind it's kind of funny that you consider the pathetic amount of funding most space agencies get as "exploiting" and "destroying efficiency" when in fact they have improved the world many times over and increased efficiency in many ways.

[EvilRedGuy]

My post was sarcastic...

Should have added more smilies.

[Yazman]

My post was sarcastic...

Should have added more smilies.

Oh, alright. It didn't read that was is all, thanks for clearing it up though. I feel kind of silly now.