China launches new space station module.
- Thread starter Yminale
- Start date
Re: Chinal launches new space station module.
The ISS only has a 10 year life span. 2022 is when NASA (if it's still around) probably has to de-orbit the station.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISS
"The station is expected to remain in operation until at least 2020, and potentially to 2028."
The ISS only has a 10 year life span. 2022 is when NASA (if it's still around) probably has to de-orbit the station.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISS
"The station is expected to remain in operation until at least 2020, and potentially to 2028."
Re: Chinal launches new space station module.
Of course they're not synonyms. They're cumulative attributes of the ISS.
The gains offered by the ISS proved to be significantly below what was advertised.
The main advantage offered by ISS is learning about what 0g will do to humans - and this is only useful in long term space flight - which won't happen any time soon; and when it will happen, it will be preceded by far cheaper orbital habitats which will gain the necessary information at a fraction of the cost.
And I don't expect anything beyond very moderate contributions from ISS until then.
Of course they're not synonyms. They're cumulative attributes of the ISS.
The gains offered by the ISS proved to be significantly below what was advertised.
The main advantage offered by ISS is learning about what 0g will do to humans - and this is only useful in long term space flight - which won't happen any time soon; and when it will happen, it will be preceded by far cheaper orbital habitats which will gain the necessary information at a fraction of the cost.
And I don't expect anything beyond very moderate contributions from ISS until then.
CaptainJack
Lieutenant Commander
Re: Chinal launches new space station module.
I think you might need to change the title of this thread. Im not sure who Chinal is?
I think you might need to change the title of this thread. Im not sure who Chinal is?
Re: Chinal launches new space station module.
It's a magical place where unicorns live. Damn those dirty unicorns for having a space program
BTW Yeah I changed it. Didn't notice it the first time.
It's a magical place where unicorns live. Damn those dirty unicorns for having a space program
BTW Yeah I changed it. Didn't notice it the first time.
CaptainJack
Lieutenant Commander
Re: Chinal launches new space station module.
^^^ Yeah its one of those things where it blends in with the l from launches and if you read it too fast, it just blends.
Back to the OT. I think its great that China is starting a real space program. Maybe an actual space race is what the USA needs to actually see the benefit. Or at the least we wont want to be left behind.
^^^ Yeah its one of those things where it blends in with the l from launches and if you read it too fast, it just blends.
Back to the OT. I think its great that China is starting a real space program. Maybe an actual space race is what the USA needs to actually see the benefit. Or at the least we wont want to be left behind.
Re: Chinal launches new space station module.
This has nothing to do with the ISS. This isn't even part of the actual station China plans on building in the future; this is just a testing module for docking maneuvers for Shenzhou spacecraft, and it only has a two-year lifespan. What it really has to do with is setting things up for China's eventual manned moon landing.
This has nothing to do with the ISS. This isn't even part of the actual station China plans on building in the future; this is just a testing module for docking maneuvers for Shenzhou spacecraft, and it only has a two-year lifespan. What it really has to do with is setting things up for China's eventual manned moon landing.
Re: Chinal launches new space station module.
I bet they're seriously planning on going to Mars as well within 40 years or so - their goal being to prove that the 21st century is the Chinese century, like the 20th was the American one, and the 19th the British one. I also expect them to establish a permanent research station on the Moon by mid century. Whether they will attempt colonization of the Moon or Mars is another matter. They have quite a few problems at home they need to solve.
I bet they're seriously planning on going to Mars as well within 40 years or so - their goal being to prove that the 21st century is the Chinese century, like the 20th was the American one, and the 19th the British one. I also expect them to establish a permanent research station on the Moon by mid century. Whether they will attempt colonization of the Moon or Mars is another matter. They have quite a few problems at home they need to solve.
Re: Chinal launches new space station module.
I'm not sure colonies are necessary, especially with the huge strides made in robotics*, which will no doubt continue. Colonies are always going to be hugely expensive, given that there isn't going to be much in the way of return on the investment for a long time.
That said, I think they will send people to Mars just to prove it can be done. They just won't leave them there.
*I thought the parallels with replicants and the clone in Moon were quite striking. Maybe it's just me.
I'm not sure colonies are necessary, especially with the huge strides made in robotics*, which will no doubt continue. Colonies are always going to be hugely expensive, given that there isn't going to be much in the way of return on the investment for a long time.
That said, I think they will send people to Mars just to prove it can be done. They just won't leave them there.
*I thought the parallels with replicants and the clone in Moon were quite striking. Maybe it's just me.
Re: Chinal launches new space station module.
Unless you establish permanent bases, is there really any point in going in the first place other than to engage in a pissing up the wall competition? The US showed that.
Ah, Moon - it's a great film but it doesn't make a lick of sense.
Unless you establish permanent bases, is there really any point in going in the first place other than to engage in a pissing up the wall competition? The US showed that.
Ah, Moon - it's a great film but it doesn't make a lick of sense.
Re: Chinal launches new space station module.
LOL, have you seen the logo of the China National Space Administration CNSA?
http://images.wikia.com/astronomy/images/c/ca/717px-CNSA.svg.png
Abrams & Co better start rebooting again and move Starfleet Headquarters to Beijing.
LOL, have you seen the logo of the China National Space Administration CNSA?
http://images.wikia.com/astronomy/images/c/ca/717px-CNSA.svg.png
Abrams & Co better start rebooting again and move Starfleet Headquarters to Beijing.
Re: Chinal launches new space station module.
Well I always thought the point of going, after it's been done once already, is to make money. There's no wall pissing involved in the Moon because it was all done a generation ago. Mars is even more problematical because of the sheer expense of getting people there and keeping them alive. However the mineral deposits are lovely. If it comes to a commercial enterprise, and I can see no other reason for developing these technologies, then people won't want a long-term life of sitting on an airless rock watching machines dig up ore and process it. Especially if the low gravity's going to fuck you up.
Well I always thought the point of going, after it's been done once already, is to make money. There's no wall pissing involved in the Moon because it was all done a generation ago. Mars is even more problematical because of the sheer expense of getting people there and keeping them alive. However the mineral deposits are lovely. If it comes to a commercial enterprise, and I can see no other reason for developing these technologies, then people won't want a long-term life of sitting on an airless rock watching machines dig up ore and process it. Especially if the low gravity's going to fuck you up.
Re: Chinal launches new space station module.
Mineral deposits on the Moon - maybe, but they're probably undifferentiated because of the geology - no hydrothermal circulation, basically. Low gravity isn't that much of a problem, but abrasive lunar dust is. Mineral deposits on Mars might be more promising as its atmosphere was sufficient to liquid water on the surface in the past. However, you're probably better off mining the asteroids. It's a lot more fuel efficient as you're not having to haul mass in and out of gravity wells. You could automate most of the extraction and processing with only an occasional maintenance visit - no need to create a huge infrastructure to store hundreds of clones of Sam Rockwell.
Mineral deposits on the Moon - maybe, but they're probably undifferentiated because of the geology - no hydrothermal circulation, basically. Low gravity isn't that much of a problem, but abrasive lunar dust is. Mineral deposits on Mars might be more promising as its atmosphere was sufficient to liquid water on the surface in the past. However, you're probably better off mining the asteroids. It's a lot more fuel efficient as you're not having to haul mass in and out of gravity wells. You could automate most of the extraction and processing with only an occasional maintenance visit - no need to create a huge infrastructure to store hundreds of clones of Sam Rockwell.
I agree the asteroids should be a target - no atmosphere and much lower gravity.
Moon, Mars - in essence, they're frozen deserts, located at the bottom of gravity wells - far from the idyllic image of them.
Space colonization would be much more efficient with O'Neill colonies.
You could have an earthlike environment in a few years (the time needed to build the O'Neill colony), instead of a not-quite-earthlike-one in a millennium (the time needed to terraform a world).
Asteroid mining would assure the economic prosperity of these colonies - unlike planetary ones, where mining will be FAR more expensive (much like on earth).
The absence of a gravity well will make it easy/cheap to travel to and from an O'Neill colony; not so much with a planet/moon.
Etc.
Space colonization would be much more efficient with O'Neill colonies.
You could have an earthlike environment in a few years (the time needed to build the O'Neill colony), instead of a not-quite-earthlike-one in a millennium (the time needed to terraform a world).
Asteroid mining would assure the economic prosperity of these colonies - unlike planetary ones, where mining will be FAR more expensive (much like on earth).
The absence of a gravity well will make it easy/cheap to travel to and from an O'Neill colony; not so much with a planet/moon.
Etc.
Saquist
Commodore
Re: Chinal launches new space station module.
I agree...but if China does it they likely have larger expectations than NASA has had for the last 40 years.
I agree...but if China does it they likely have larger expectations than NASA has had for the last 40 years.
