Re: Another space race: China & Russia vs. the USA

Guy Fawkes wrote:

There's no obvious reason for either Russia (which still has the potential to do it alone if the need was great enough) or China (which doesn't have much to bring to the table at this time...Russia would be as concerned about technology transfer to China as we are) to share the glory or prestiege of a manned Lunar project with each other.



I don't think the Russians are worried about technology transfer at all, otherwise they wouldn't have sold the Chinese the Soyuz technology in the first place.

The Russians originally sold China a stripped-down Soyuz, which the Chinese proceeded to not only duplicate and enlarge somewhat, but add their own variations. That much is definitely true.

However, China still had to provide its own launcher for it, and that's the sort fo thing that matters. How well they can place various payloads in orbit. Commercial satellite launches (Russia isn't interested in helping them become competitors in this area), domestic research, communications and, ah, military payloads. (something else Russia may not want so lend too much expertiese to).


> The Russians *do* worry about paying for such a trip, which is
probably their prime motivation for teaming up with the Chinese.


Hmm. I don't see either country wanting to be too dependent on the other, either.


Because the Chinese also have much better access to Western computer technology


Why would that be?


> teaming
up would reduce the risk of the U.S. boycotting them by withholding computer parts for the mission.

Aside from that, there's still some feeling of brotherhood between the two nations, especially now Russia is slipping back to the Dark Side of The Force.

I'm still not sure how much that means. I haven't forgotten how they both almost went to war in the winter of 1968-69.


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Frank

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