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I don't see any reason why China is beating everyone else. After all, who maintains and crews a $100 billion dollar orbital complex?
The US, Europe, and Russia. And Japan.
Also, what is really beating US progress is nonsense politics. If we hadn't had this nonsense about SLS and whatnot, NASA would be on its way to creating partnerships with commercial entities to create an architecture for BEO exploration. Pity that never happened.
SpaceX could do a lunar flyby in future... we shall see. I think they are more likely to do a lunar flyby than Orion and SLS... but maybe this is just my urge to see the new guys beat over the political pork monstrosity more than anything else.
EDIT:
By then, who cares? Everyone will have forgotten. :lol:
Also, just getting to the Moon does not mean much. The US did it, but where is the US now? It does not change things much.
It would be pretty embarassing for China to land on the Moon and for nobody else to be there... but if someone else goes further (to an asteroid, etc), their exploration efforts might be considered outmoded.
Oh yes the ESA does have a space station! It's called the International Space Station. And yes, they launch astronauts too... not on native vehicles, but maybe this does not matter that much.
Even the Shuttle was an international program, really. And you had, what was it again? Intercosmos?
International cooperation in space goes back further than you think. I think it is a very good thing, for those with the capability, to offer it to those without the capability. Countries like South Africa or Thailand couldn't hope to launch their own manned vehicles... but they could cooperate with international partners and fly in space that way.
The US, Europe, and Russia. And Japan.
Also, what is really beating US progress is nonsense politics. If we hadn't had this nonsense about SLS and whatnot, NASA would be on its way to creating partnerships with commercial entities to create an architecture for BEO exploration. Pity that never happened.
SpaceX could do a lunar flyby in future... we shall see. I think they are more likely to do a lunar flyby than Orion and SLS... but maybe this is just my urge to see the new guys beat over the political pork monstrosity more than anything else.
EDIT:
Didn't they sey they were going to the Moon...by 2030? Surely the would not go back on that goal, otherwise their "propaganda" might suffer?
By then, who cares? Everyone will have forgotten. :lol:
Also, just getting to the Moon does not mean much. The US did it, but where is the US now? It does not change things much.
It would be pretty embarassing for China to land on the Moon and for nobody else to be there... but if someone else goes further (to an asteroid, etc), their exploration efforts might be considered outmoded.
Personally, I think China's rate of progress is fine. They're about to launch a space station...and I don't see the ESA launching manned missions or space stations!
Oh yes the ESA does have a space station! It's called the International Space Station. And yes, they launch astronauts too... not on native vehicles, but maybe this does not matter that much.
Even the Shuttle was an international program, really. And you had, what was it again? Intercosmos?
International cooperation in space goes back further than you think. I think it is a very good thing, for those with the capability, to offer it to those without the capability. Countries like South Africa or Thailand couldn't hope to launch their own manned vehicles... but they could cooperate with international partners and fly in space that way.
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