DailyTech - Space Cooperation in Today's World

Submit News

Blog: Science Space Cooperation in Today's World
Michael Hoffman (Blog) - October 19, 2007 6:45 AM

17 comment(s) - last by albeP.. on Oct 21 at 7:01 AM

The International Space Station (Source: NASA)

Representatives of 15 of the 16 nations participating on the ISS (Source: NASA)

Space cooperation among nations causes interesting situations

DailyTech recently published a news story in which China said it is still willing to work with the United States on future missions, especially on the International Space Station (ISS). Are the other space nations welcoming China?

The Chinese space program, even if some critics want to turn a blind eye, happens to be a growing space power that the United States and rest of the world are now closely watching. Much of the space research being done in China continues to grab headlines, with the country successfully completing several major projects.

NASA Administrator Michael Griffin went to China last year to discuss a possible bilateral space agreement between the two nations, but nothing significant happened.

Since it is more likely that China will reach the moon again before the United States - something NASA is willing to admit - the United States is still not ready to assist Chinese space endeavors. Aside from the communist government that the United States regularly bumps heads with, the country's satellite destruction methods via a land-based missile also displeased the U.S. government.

The United States is currently working with more than a dozen different nations aboard the ISS, along with several other nations that are likely to increase their role in the project in the next several years. Even though China once again showed interest in working alongside the rest of the world - this time on the ISS - the United States isn't interested.

What is the status of space cooperation among other large space programs?

"International collaboration is very important for JAXA," a JAXA spokesperson told DailyTech. "Some examples of the collaborative activities are participation in the International Space Station Project and the Global Space Exploration Strategy Workshop for Moon probing."

JAXA also cited the Asia-Pacific Regional Space Agency Forum (APRSAF) and data acquired by the "Daichi" Advanced Land Observing Satellite under the "Space and Major Disasters" international charter. The APRSAF is made up of Japan, Mongolia, Malaysia, South Korea, Thailand, Australia and Indonesia, and has conducted more than 14 meetings in the Asia-Pacific region.

The European Space Agency is helping to make sure its partnerships with NASA, Russia and JAXA continue to get stronger at a time when space ambitions continue to grow.

"Space cooperation is an important element in overall European-Russia cooperation. This meeting has proved very useful as concrete work plans have been established," said Jean-Jacques Dordain, ESA Director General. "The cooperation between Europe and Russia in the area of launchers should serve as a model for cooperation in other areas such as exploration, space science and space applications."

I don't expect JAXA or the ESA to try and convince the United States to let China have more of a helping hand in space research.

NASA continues to work with a number of partners while the U.S. space agency desperately tries to finish construction of the ISS before the current generation of space shuttle is retired. If you doubt why space cooperation is important for NASA, keep in mind that NASA will likely rely on Russian spacecraft to get astronauts into space once the shuttle is retired in 2010. NASA also is ready to continue strengthening ties with the India Space Research Organization, the growing Indian space program.

Even though I would like to see the nasty game of politics leave space research, politics obviously has deep roots in space exploration - dating back more than 50 years.

NASA and ESA representatives did not immediately return e-mails sent regarding space cooperation.

Comments

Threshold

Username
Password
remember me

This article is over a month old, voting and posting comments is disabled

I'm no fan of China...

By jskirwin on 10/19/2007 10:05:29 AM , Rating: 4

But I see no reason not to cooperate with them in space. The US cooperated with the Soviets, so why not the Chinese?

That in no way excuses their support of the Sudanese and Burmese regimes, and the continued occupation of Tibet. However if we really want to pressure them over these issues, there are other more effective ways.

Like arming the Karen in Burma and the rebels in Darfur.

RE: I'm no fan of China...

By Rampage on 10/19/2007 12:03:36 PM , Rating: 1

Why would you vote this guy down? He makes a point and obviously knows his world affairs.

He's right anyway.

Parent

RE: I'm no fan of China...

By Ringold on 10/19/2007 2:58:07 PM , Rating: 2

By cooperate you mean.. mutually targetted ICBM's at each other?

I'm not aware of US-Soviet cooperation.. perhaps there was some and I'm not aware of it but we didn't let them on SkyLab or whatnot and they didn't let us on Mir until 1995, and that was also the first time an American launched aboard a Soyuz, so.. not sure how far any cooperation could've gone.

Oh, unless you're refering to allowing them to steal the basic orbiter design for Buran, then sure! :)

Parent

RE: I'm no fan of China...

By BBeltrami on 10/19/2007 3:17:07 PM , Rating: 2

Why is it that we as a culture have such short memories? Indeed, there WAS this thing called the "Cold War". And the "Space Race" that sent Americans to the Lunar surface was purely about getting there before the USSR.

The very idea that there is a historic record of cooperation is folly. Using this argument to support cooperation with China in space is laughable.

IMO, Darfur, et al, are not relevant. The fact that "the Chinese space program ... happens to be a growing space power" is thoroughly unimpressive. If a Ugandan scientist blows off a firecracker, THEY would be a "growing" space power.

Why don't we start small? How's about we begin by getting Chinese cooperation in addressing a half-century of shoddy and (in many cases) hazardous exports. Or, put another way, what sane astronaut would board a rocked with the little gold, "Made in China" sticker on it?

Parent

RE: I'm no fan of China...

By glitchc on 10/19/2007 6:46:53 PM , Rating: 2

The Chinese are not to blame for shoddy exports, the Americans are. Chinese products come in a wide variety of classes, from shoddy to extremely well-made. Tools, for instance, can be constructed of cheap pewter on the low-end or drop-forged carbon steel on the high end. All made in China. It's really the American consumer which demands cheap throwaway goods, and that too in an ever-increasing market scope. For instance, everybody wants a cheap LCD, even if it's crap color quality, or crap refresh rate. It's good enough for most people. They're willing to pay for it and so the market is saturated with them. Which is why Walmart sells more cheap LCDs than any other electronics retailer.

Note that this argument does not take away from expensive goods being crap, since much of that has to do with brand labelling and brand loyalty. It also doesn't take away from early adopters and technology connoisseurs/afficionados who have very discriminating tastes. Those are separate arguments.

The hazardous exports that you're referring to recently (lead-based paints and deadly toothpastes) are as much a fault of the lax regulations of the Chinese govt. as they are of the US companies which take advantage of those regulations, and cut costs to manufacture a cheaper product. It is the job of the multi-national corporation to ensure that the product is safe, not its subsidiary.

Parent

RE: I'm no fan of China...

By masher2

(blog) on 10/19/2007 8:48:37 PM , Rating: 3

> "The very idea that there is a historic record of cooperation is folly"

You mean, besides the joint Apollo-Soyuz docking in the early 70s, and the Space Shuttle - Mir missions that began a couple years before the fall of the Soviet Union and continued many years after?

Parent

RE: I'm no fan of China...

By CheesePoofs on 10/20/2007 6:30:00 PM , Rating: 2

erm, how about the Apollo-Soyuz mission in 1975? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apollo-Soyuz_Test_Pro...

Personally I'd count that as cooperation in my book.

Parent

RE: I'm no fan of China...

By lompocus on 10/20/2007 3:50:51 AM , Rating: 2

There's a big damn difference.

The soviets had the possibility of getting up there and doing stuff. The chinese are FAR behind us. We got to space, what, 50 years now that we're so far into the new millenium? Or has it been 40?

That's a bit far off from China's first planned ROVER to the moon 3 years before our manned mission. Of course the media will hype it up that hte US is failing. Let's ignore US base plans.

Let's just forget the fact the US are the only ones with a good space plan.

Let's just forget that one probe that was considered more important than a shuttle launched a few weeks ago...

Let's just forget our current level of tech in comparison to everyone else.

Let's forgot China's instability and far reaching vary of life, ranging from piss poor to smog infested death zone.

Of course...no one listens. Gosh...I wonder, is there some conspiracy you all are part of? Some sort of thing to 'convince' everyone that the world leader HAS to fall one day? That there HAS to be an end?

:(. Of course no one listens. This IS the internet...it just pains me when I see these discussions taken on CNN and portrayed as what the world thinks...

:(.

Of course no one listens.

Parent

Welcome Aboard - is what i would say

By kattanna on 10/19/2007 11:25:50 AM , Rating: 3

with china being only the 3rd country in the entire world to send humans into space, after russia and america, it seems kinda silly to not be welcoming them aboard.

what are they gonna get from being up there in tech that they are not probably already getting directly from the russians?

I say let them demonstrate the ability to dock in space with another ship first, then let them dock to the ISS for a good will mission.

if they are serious, then you can't tell me that having a third option on hand to send people supplies to the station would not be a good thing.

lets see if maybe they would want to actively contribute to the station.

RE: Welcome Aboard - is what i would say

By Master Kenobi

(blog) on 10/19/2007 4:26:57 PM , Rating: 2

Chinese space technology is based on Russian, and Russian is significantly behind U.S. space technology. Especially in the Military category.

Parent

RE: Welcome Aboard - is what i would say

By lompocus on 10/20/2007 3:54:07 AM , Rating: 2

Yay, my faith in DT has been reestablished! Finally someone doesn't think a T-54 can crush an abrams (lol).

Some chinese tech is based on US tech...but then again, that's during the time newer US tech is being established. Fighter Jets are a good example.

I've always wondered...what would happen if you shot a 'blackbird' into space? Oh god please tell me SOMEONE besides me knows what that is....

Parent

RE: Welcome Aboard - is what i would say

By jamdunc on 10/20/2007 8:02:52 PM , Rating: 2

Pity the Abrams sucks compared to the Challenger ;) The US only stays ahead through politics and pay-offs. You still can't make a good low-level bomber, and it's thanks to the Brits that you got the Harrier. And the Russians have the best aircraft. But that's by the by.

Once again politics gets in the way of progress. If we all worked together, maybe one day we'd have world peace instead of all this bickering.

Then and only then can we start Starfleet and I can become a starship captain!

Parent

RE: Welcome Aboard - is what i would say

By lompocus on 10/20/2007 10:33:21 PM , Rating: 1

:P Brits suck, esp. the military.

well, a british island sized america and a british island sized britain WOULD be evenly matched, unti lyou saw the abrams which is superior to the challenger.

politics and payoffs? Are you implying we paid the terrorist to lose?

Besides, ever heard of our new crazy sci-fi-like carrier we're making? You know, the one with lasers and microwave beams of death?

Parent

RE: Welcome Aboard - is what i would say

By albeP on 10/21/2007 7:01:37 AM , Rating: 2

quote:
Chinese space technology is based on Russian, and Russian is significantly behind U.S. space technology. Especially in the Military category.

You don't know what the fcuk you're talking about. The Russians have by far the best space military technology. They had a operational ORBITAL BOMBARDMENT system in 1968... As for the Chinese military technology they shot a satellite at 865km; higher than the American 555km and Soviet 538km. All 3 nations also have ICBMs with MIRV technology (the only real space weapons currently).

Parent

um, say again?

By rtrski on 10/19/2007 11:54:50 AM , Rating: 2

I normally hate typo comments, but even if I fix a missing negative in my head as I read this, I couldn't make it make sense:

quote:
Even though I would like to see the nasty game of politics get involved with space research, politics obviously has deep space exploration - dating back more than 50 years.