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UCS backgrounder on China's manned space program
A few months ago, UCS published this backgrounder on China's manned space program.
http://www.ucsusa.org/news/media_alerts/china-to-launch-piloted-space-capsule-1368.html
June 13, 2012
China to Launch Piloted Space Capsule
UCS Issues Paper on Chinese Intentions for Building a Space Station
China is expected to launch a piloted space capsule to dock with an experimental space laboratory as early as this Saturday. The launch is a trial run for eventually docking a capsule with a Chinese space station.
If successful, this month’s launch will be another milestone for China’s space program—and provide more fodder for U.S. speculation about Chinese intentions. U.S. officials have been concerned about China’s space program for some time. Some argue that it is driven by military objectives, while others claim China wants to beat the United States back to the moon.
A backgrounder published today by the Union of Concerned Scientists, based on recently published Chinese histories, clarifies how and why China decided to build its own space station. Written by UCS Senior Analyst Gregory Kulacki, “Why China is Building a Space Station” reveals:
The upcoming docking mission is an intermediate step in China’s 30-year plan to build a space station. The plan emerged from a contentious internal debate that began in March 1986 and engaged hundreds of Chinese experts in many fields, as well as the leadership of numerous Chinese institutions.
<snip>
From the beginning, and throughout the development of the Chinese human spaceflight program, China’s goal was never to catch up or surpass other nations but to avoid falling too far behind.
The public and official Chinese debate over a sending Chinese astronauts to the moon centers on the economic cost and a desire for greater international cooperation. China’s policy preference appears to be to work with other spacefaring nations on a human lunar mission.
<snip>
June 13, 2012
China to Launch Piloted Space Capsule
UCS Issues Paper on Chinese Intentions for Building a Space Station
China is expected to launch a piloted space capsule to dock with an experimental space laboratory as early as this Saturday. The launch is a trial run for eventually docking a capsule with a Chinese space station.
If successful, this month’s launch will be another milestone for China’s space program—and provide more fodder for U.S. speculation about Chinese intentions. U.S. officials have been concerned about China’s space program for some time. Some argue that it is driven by military objectives, while others claim China wants to beat the United States back to the moon.
A backgrounder published today by the Union of Concerned Scientists, based on recently published Chinese histories, clarifies how and why China decided to build its own space station. Written by UCS Senior Analyst Gregory Kulacki, “Why China is Building a Space Station” reveals:
The upcoming docking mission is an intermediate step in China’s 30-year plan to build a space station. The plan emerged from a contentious internal debate that began in March 1986 and engaged hundreds of Chinese experts in many fields, as well as the leadership of numerous Chinese institutions.
<snip>
From the beginning, and throughout the development of the Chinese human spaceflight program, China’s goal was never to catch up or surpass other nations but to avoid falling too far behind.
The public and official Chinese debate over a sending Chinese astronauts to the moon centers on the economic cost and a desire for greater international cooperation. China’s policy preference appears to be to work with other spacefaring nations on a human lunar mission.
<snip>
