Quote:
Originally posted by Ronn_Bman:
Somehow I don't see the investment balancing against the future profits. If there is money in going to the moon why did the US and Soviets stop?
Is space a cash cow waiting to be milked or a money pit?
Are the nations who are currently engaged in space commerce getting rich off it?
Sorry, but it does seem that this is a huge publicity stunt put on at the expensive of the Chinese people and those who are willing to help them unless the economics justify it, and with that not being the case, this article seems completely valid.
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Ronn - China has been pushing for an international treaty to stop a weapons race in space. The US believe that such a treaty is not necessary. Presently the US controls the GPS system, it allows other nations to access the system but can remove this access at any time. The EU is being 'discouraged'by the USA from developing their own systems.
In addition the US is developing it's "global engagement" policy which, along with GPS, will include missile defence and the ability to launch weapons from space. This policy is intended to allow the US to strike pre-emptively anywhere in the world and will deny other nations this capability.
China believe that this policy is being developed with them in mind. Is it any wonder then that they seek to develop their own space capability? Not a publicity stunt, rather a necessary precaution in the face of the USA's refusal to even discuss the problem.
Looks like we are headed for a whole new arms race. What price the Federation of Planets now?
The question of aid is separate of course.