Chinese Space Program

[hollis]

The Chinese are launching their first space walk. I found that interesting, even though their progress into spaceflight is barely on par with 1970s-era Russia.

[mar10]

H
Not surprising at all. People under communist rule are just another lump of matter. No soul. No spirit. No freewill. Just another piece of state property told what to do. They are just another expendable crew member. Recall the most recent news stories of the construction of the 'birds nest' for the olympics? Workers that fell to their death were just scooped up quickly and quietly, and replaced.

They are on a mission to give the world the impression that their communism is every bit as successful as capitalism. Odd since capitalism in China is gaining a real foothold and changing the mindset of many individuals - at least the ones that I am doing business with. They want to create something on their own, and generate wealth for themselves and their families.

I was in China in February, and took a leisurely walk through a famous park. It was getting the royal treatment and being revitalized in preparation for all the tourists the olympics would bring, but wasn't quite there yet. As we walked I spotted a human femur in the bushes just a couple feet from the paved walking path. I pointed it out to my handlers, and things got very chilly quickly, but they hardly blinked. Then I joked that it was probably a foreigner who venture too far off the path. That got a lot of laughs and broke an awkward moment, but the fact is human life is not so valuable in many places of the world.

And this is why their people are sent on spacewalks, regardless of how safe it really is.

m

[hollis]

You hit it on the head with the spacewalks: no one in the West who has reviewed their designs thinks that they are all that safe. That, coupled with the fact that they are willing to risk human lives on an EVA on their THIRD manned spaceflight. We didn't try that for nearly a dozen flights.

[Caligastia Lanonandek]

Flash!

Earth's stargate was discovered in China.

Where is Daniel Jackson when you need him

[rob]

I haven't seen their designs and even if I had, I'm no enigineer so my opinion would probably be worth squat anyway.

However, it wouldn't surprise me at all if they had the plans for OUR stuff. Hell, Clinton gave them Multiple Re-Entry Vehicle technology for their nukes in exchange for some hefty campaign contributions. We gave them the ability to wipe out several cities with one missile launch, what does a little EVA suit matter next to that?

[mar10]

Good point about the clinton's Rob. Who knows what was sold. What's a little space technology compared to 50 years of nuclear secrets.

And Cal, sometimes I don't know if you refer to real events or episodes of our favorite space programs because they often overlap in content. The real stargates that I have heard you speak about are on US soil and in Antartica. No mention of anything located in China. To what do you refer sir?

marten

[hollis]

Anyways....My point was that one shouldn't be surprised if a Chinese taikonaut dies and it never gets reported, or gets minimized. Soviets had three or more times as many deaths in their space program, but they didn't let the word get out about it until the eighties.

[Caligastia Lanonandek]

Marten

It was a joke. Daniel Jackson (in the stargate show) was always focus'd on 'meaning of life stuff' and ascension.

Me and mine don't have stargates, we have dimensional doors (wormholes). However, I find the idea of a stargate interesting. Also, we consume a substance called bread of life that has a 99% energy conversion rate. (we don't spend a lot of time in the throne room). It isn't based upon dead animals or plants. While it makes a good energy supply - it tastes like cardboard. I also find the idea of a food synthesizer very agreeable and I'm certain that such a thing would be very popular with angels. Having a good steak without having to kill anything to get it.

[Parn]

I'm not sure what the concept of a stargate is about, but if it's what I think it is, a bridge to other universes, then I think a more appropriate term for it would be "crossgate", personally. The existance of the Hail Mary might well suggest such a technology can be developed, considering where it will be going.

[Caligastia Lanonandek]

In the tv show, a stargate is a bridge (wormhole) built between two devices.

I've posed the question (to myself), as a mode of transportation which is faster, a ship or a d-door? I suspect the d-door is. This raised the next question - has anyone ever considered putting a ship into a d-door? I come back with no. The doors are relatively small and designed for moving people or small objects. Building an emitter large enough to handle a ship - would be an interesting engineering task and the military possibilites of deploying assets much faster than an enemy could are obvious.

For the most part t.v. is mindless diversion. But occasionally, I get a good idea from it.

[Parn]

In all the time this technology has been available nobody in the universe has thought of trying to make one big enough for even a small to mid sized ship to go through?

[Caligastia Lanonandek]

Necessity is the mother of invention. There's never been a full blown war in the universe, thus, no need.

Me, on the other hand, I look for every 'edge' I can find.

[Caligastia Lanonandek]

Talking cows? And people think I'm nuts

It amazed me at how close the writers of Stargate got it right. I was hoping Jackson would realize there were 2 levels above the ancients and ori but they ended the series there. In their scenario, I'd be Oma Desala 'but' 'they' can't stop me.

Unlike the show - people don't choose to use d-doors for interstellar travel. Were anything to interfere with it - you'd end up sucking vacuum - thus the preference for ships.

[hollis]

Enjoy this one about the Chinese space program: superpoop.com/sp-archives/sparchive-oct08.php

[Parn]

I'm not sure on your position, but a talking dream cow gives me plenty reason to eat another double cheeseburger.