Chinese
module on ISS? [4/4/99]
David : If an additional Chinese module is to be
attached, where would it fit? Wouldn't modifications on
current modules cost too much? [4/4/99] Chen Lan : There are rumors that China will build one of
the Russian scientific modules on ISS which Russia is
unable to pay for. But I think this possiblility is
rather small. A recent report shows China's interest on
ISS. However it is possible only when political problems
between China and U.S were solved. Attaching of a Chinese
module on ISS will never heppen at ISS's completion in
2004. Maybe phase 4 after 2004?
Chinese
manned flight [4/15/99]
winston First, congrats to Chen Lan. This is a great
website! It's nice to read the comments of others who
have an interest in China's space program.
1)It will happen eventually that China will succeed here.
But it's better to be safe than sorry. Better that they
go slowly than rush and make mistakes. (Remember the
flurry of failures a couple years ago!) I would rather
they do it later and safer. Whatever, it is going to
happen!
2)Re U.S.Satellite ban on China. The ban has nothing to
do with security. There are elements in the U.S. who
simply don't want China to do well. We're just restaurant
and laundry owners as far as they're concerned.
Everything China does that is good, these mindless,
bigoted Americans will take credit for. They will never
believe that the Chinese are capable of anything good.
Isn't it interesting that the ban is on China and not
Communist China? Politics has nothing to do with this.
These Americans just don't want China challenging their
superiority! The idea of a third-world, non-white country
as a world power must frighten these people!
They should get accustomed to China becoming an
increasingly powerful country in the years to come. You
can't stop the future!
keep up the good work, everyone. Especially you, Chen
Lan!
[4/16/99] Chen Lan Agree -- and I will keep on.
Hey
nice to see those pictures up!!!!! [4/15/99]
Santa I always keep my eyes open for any new
developments on the Chinese Space programme for you
Chenlan. Because you have the best site about the Chinese
space programmes around and I want to thank you for your
hard work...
[4/16/99] Chen Lan Thanks for the information
China
spaceplane model [4/15/99]
Dominic Phelan Looking at the pictures of the spaceplane model,
it reminds me of the Hermes mini-shuttle that was studied
by the European Space Agency back in the 80s. That
project was eventually canceled because the costs didn't
justify the end product - a small 'people carrier' with
not cargo bay.
Is it possible that the Chinese have come to the same
conclusion (thus not feeling so protective of these
pictures) and have switch attention to developing a small
manned throw away capsule first before considering
anything more advanced?
[4/16/99] Chen Lan I believe that China decided, at least in 10
years ago, an approach to develop the manned vehicle.
That is:
1. A Soyuz like capsule.
2. An unmanned shuttle prototype
3A. Manned shuttle (Hermes like but smaller?)
3B. Unmanned RLV (Sanger or X-34 like?)
[4/20/99] Jose Verde I think that China is planning TWO types of
manned spacecraft. This has to do with the availability
of the launch vehicles. As long as China does not dispose
of a new family of lauchers with LEO capacity of 25-30 T,
they will stick to the CZ-2E launcher and use SOYUZ type
spacecraft. Meanwhile, they will develop a new family of
launchers, that they should have ready by 2010. This
timeframe would be consistent with the simultaneous
development of a Space Shuttle, that should be ready to
launch in that date.
[4/20/99] Jose Verde As for the development of Two Stage To Orbit
spaceplanes, I think that China will only put money in
such a project if actualy someone succeeds in developing
a fully reusable comercial launcher. Since the prospects
for this are most improbable (see Lockheed's problems
with X-33), it's unlikely that China will pour money into
such a project...
First
Asian in space [4/19/99]
JT Bet you can't guess!
[4/19/99] Chen Lan - Phan Tuan, cosmonaut from Viet Nam
- July 23, 1980
- Ride the Russian Soyuz 39 to Salyut 6.
[4/19/99] winston Chen Lan certainly knows his aerospace history!
As for Pham Tuan, he was more a political astronaut than
anything else. He just went along for a ride. Where is he
now? What is he doing? Certainly it was courageous of him
to take the trip but I simply can't understand in what
way Vietnam gained from this.
When china does it, it will be an all-Chinese
accomplishment. But you know what?
There are many in the West who will never give China the
credit. They'll claim that China could never have done it
without `stealing' technology!
I predict that's what's going to happen. And what d'you
think will be the reason for their saying this...?
[4/22/99] fan I think the Russians once offered a space for a
Chinese astronaut, but the price was too high, and
Chinese won't like it because of the exact reason you
mentioned.
New
chinese space link [5/7/99]
Rachel Here is a new chinese space link(may be old):
http://www.gcnc.com
May contain some articles on chinese rockets and space
technology. Enjoy!
Regards
Rachel
General [5/9/99]
winston With the certainty that the U.S congress will
ban any further Chinese launches of U.S manufatured
satelites, and the current fiasco of the U.S led NATO
bombing the Chinese embassy in Yugoslavia, I think it's
time the Chinese bite the bullet and realise that they
have to strike out on their own in their space
endeavours. Cooperation with any other space power will
bring about only limited success. As the relatively
new-kid-on-the-block, China will always be treated like a
cute puppy on a leash...Go, China!
[5/11/99] Dominic Phelan China has certainly 'bitten the bullet' in
Belgrade, with NATO's bombing of the embassy in
Yugoslavia bringing predictions of a new Cold War closer.
(See my 'Politics' message).
The embassy event in Belgrade has played into the hands
of hawks on both sides, who would love to see a new
enemy. As we all know Spaceflight thrives in this type of
atmosphere, it can be a tool of nationalism as well as
science.
With the 50th anniversary coming up, this is the year of
nationalism in China. If the country wants to show she
can stand up to 'The West' then a manned flight would be
just such an event. It would be the perfect signal by the
Chinese establishment that their technology is put to
better uses than what NATO is doing with its high-tech
gear. I wouldn't be surprised if the bombing has advanced
the schedule for a 'space spectacular' by a year or more.
Congrats [5/10/99]
fan LM4B success! Slap the arrogant Yanks in their
face!
[6/4/99] C. Land Hey, we aren't all arrogant, just the dumb
people that are in power over here, you know, the embassy
bombers and the Slick Willies.
Politics
of Space [5/11/99]
winston Politics not only makes strange bedfellows, it
seems that it also makes strange spacefellows. I'm
surprised that Clinton approves the launching of the
Iridium satellites by China (guilty conscience?)
What next?
Will communication
satellites soon follow? With 6 failures within the past 9
months, the U.S military space efforts are in a mess. Who
knows? Perhaps China should offer to send up their spy
satellites? (tongue-in-cheek, of course!)
As for a manned flight this year, that would be great!
However, one has to have some test flights first. If the
hawks in China are to have their say, it should be to put
the manned flight on the fast track as opposed to taking
unnecessary risks right now when they're possibly not
ready...
[6/4/99] C. Land The PRC or somebody needs to forge ahead, our
efforts at putting satellites in space seems to have
fizzled.
Chinese
spaceship from Yangcheng Evening news... [5/13/99]
wfm (long article deleted)
[5/13/99] Jo Could we please have somone translate this Post.
I would to know what it said.
[5/13/99] Chen Lan Nothing new
[5/13/99] wfm News from BBC about chinese space program...
There are several in the following address:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/newsid_342000/342936.stm
[5/18/99] He Weiting "Western experts believe that this is a
mis-translation. They expect the spacecraft to have more
in common with the Russian Soyuz manned spacecraft than
the US shuttle which it is believed is far beyond China's
technical abilities."
Once again "Western Experts" obviously CAN'T
READ CHINESE! Much less comment on translation quality.
Multiple sources have made plain that development of
winged shuttle-type spacecraft has been underway in China
for quite some time, and the word "Hangkong
Feiji" is a definitive technical term, quite
distinct from "Hangkongchuan": it does not
admit of mistranslation. Although I do not remember Li
Lianzhong commenting on the "Hangkong Feiji"
project, he did say that while China will enter manned
space 30 years after the US and Russia, it is not
accurate to say that Chinese space technology is 30 years
behind the others. The advances in information processing
technology alone make that impossible. Can't anyone ever
consult actual experts on the Chinese space program
rather than generalists or Russian experts who don't know
anything?
[5/26/99] wfm (From CNN)China may put man into space this
year...
Check the following address
http://cnn.com/TECH/space/9905/26/china.space.reut/index.html
Asiasat
& Long March [5/22/99]
wickam On Spacenews site, 22 May, 1999, it is stated
that Asiasat has discarded Long March as an option. What
gives? Isn't one of the major shareholders of Asiasat
CITC? And CITC is all Chinese? True the last Asiasat
satellite was launched by the Russians but, still, it
makes you wonder.
What gives?
Is this a price to gain entry to the WTO? A sell-out?
Is it because Asiasat uses American-made Hughes
satellites?
Anyone has any ideas on this?
If my facts are correct then I have to wonder to what
extent Chinese technology will be supported by the
present Chinese government...
Hope I'm wrong...!
[5/22/99] Chen Lan If your information is true, a possible reason
is the U.S. export restriction. AsiaSat is a commercail
company. It has to consider its benefits if select
European or Chinese satellite. Chinese share is important
for decision making but not all.
China's
Man in Space [5/26/99]
wickam Frankly, I'm confused. I've seen the CNN report
and tend to disbelieve it. Surely some test flights need
to be made first? But then I link to
www.chinadaily.com.cn and there on it's front page I see
a "Breaking News" scroll. One of the items in
this "Breaking News" is that of a planned Man
in Space by China in October. It reads very much like the
CNN item. But what is it doing on the front page of the
China Daily site? Does this not lend it credibility? Is
this a true story then? Is China finally going to make
the attempt in October...? Can someone explain...?
[5/26/99] Chen Lan A manned flight this year is impossible! Media
sometimes are not creditable, even the officail media in
China. They are usually not professionals in science and
technology, which often cause
"mis-interpreting" in the reports.
Help-question [5/28/99]
chineseboy I did help on my research paper:
Should the U.S. spend more money on its space program?
Any opinions?
[5/28/99] Astrophysics guy There should always be a balance between persuit
of space and other elements of government affairs. The
U.S. definitely needs to spend more money on its own
rockets to improve their reliability and reduce the cost
to compete with the Europeans and Chinese in the
commercial market. As long as the U.S. keeps a reasonable
lead over other nations, there is no need to dramatically
increase NASA's funding.