Communists on the moon !

[JurijD]

I didn't see enough "off topics" on this board today so... And if I remember these can get really interesting.

As I heard... the Chineese are planning on sending a manned mission to the Moon in 2008-2009. Do you people think this might spark another space race and get us back on the right track again? Too bad the Russians gave up on their manned Moon mission... their rocket was sure a pretty thing to see

I'm asking myself this because when the Chineese launched their first human into orbit, some American news channels were quick to point out that China might militarize space and that "we" should get ready for it. (Of course us Europeans took a less paranoid stance but... thats not the point here

Of course there are strong trade relations between China and the US that were just not present between them and the Soviet Union (ahhh the good old days so the conditions are different... but still. Do you people think we'll se another race-for-space developing in the next few years or decades?

Sure would be cool though

[narf poit chez BOOM]

and, of course, the US would never militarize space...and if you buy that, i've got some ocean-front property in alberta.

yeah, a space-race would be nice.

[JurijD]

Huh? You mean that The Americans would also try militarize space? By the gost of M. Tacher and the beard of A. Lincon... I never thought that the US could do anything in such a militaristic and unilateral way... I mean aren't they always so forthcoming and willing to compromise and talk things out ?

[ December 10, 2003, 23:42: Message edited by: JurijD ]

[Puke]

mmmm... space race... militarization... a Chinese superpower...

now what we NEED is another big push for Manifest Destiny and Imminent Domain. This time, the MOON. And after that we can have WWIV, with the sticks and stones. Just like that German ex-pat scientist-guy said.

[narf poit chez BOOM]

you mean good ol' Al?

[President_Elect_Shang]

A race for the moon, I seriously doubt it. I don’t think that the government or NASA will be changing their focus from Mars anytime soon. They are more likely to just sit back and say “Been there, got the shirt”. As for the Chinese I say go ahead and land baby. Since about 18% of the export trade is to the US and only about 2% import for them is from us this venture could lead to an increase in trade (technology wise) and it would tie our two countries together more. Since China has had around an 8% growth in its economy for some time it will only be a matter of decades before it assumes the place of the next world super power. My point to all of this is that with a link made from trade it could avoid the next Cold War. Having lived through and served in the armed forces during one I am in no rush to live out, or have my children live through another one.