Chinese to Establish Asia-Pacific Space Cooperation

[sunzt]

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/c...02/content_7073465.htm

Space exploration group in the works

China will set up the Asia-Pacific Space Cooperation Organization at the end of the year as part of a major effort to promote joint space exploration, a top space administrator has said.

Sun Laiyan, chief of the China National Space Administration, said the organization will focus on satellite applications and training.

Sun, flush from the success of the country's first space walk on Sept 27, made the remarks at the ongoing 59th International Astronautical Congress in Glasgow, Scotland, on Tuesday.

Astronauts aboard the Shenzhou VII carried out a brief space walk during a 68-hour flight.

The Asia-Pacific Space Cooperation Organization (APSCO) was first proposed by China, Thailand and Pakistan in early 1992.

The organization, already joined by nine countries - Bangladesh, China, Indonesia, Iran, Mongolia, Pakistan, Peru, Thailand and Turkey - welcomes the participation of more nations, Sun said.

According to the Convention of the APSCO, signed by these nine countries, the organization aims to promote multilateral cooperation in space science and technology and regional economic and social development among Asia-Pacific nations.

Since space projects require huge financial input and research work, Sun appealed to countries to work together on the development of space resources.

"China is willing to conduct international space cooperation on the basis of equality, mutual benefit and common development," Sun said.

China and Brazil have launched three Sino-Brazilian resources monitoring satellites since 1999 and plan to launch two more under the China-Brazil Earth Resources Satellite program.

In March, China signed an agreement with Russia on a Mars exploration initiative.

The satellite is due to be launched next year, said the China administrator.

China is currently building two major space systems: a high-resolution earth observation system consisting of satellites, airships in the stratosphere, spacecraft and receiving stations on the ground, and a Beidou (satellite) Navigation System that will initially be developed for regional coverage before going global.

Sun said China plans to develop a new generation of carrier rocket by 2013 and to research and develop spacecraft docking technologies.

Elements of a space station will be in orbit by 2011 before a robotic landing is attempted on the Moon two years later.

I still can't believe NASA refuses to allow Chinese cooperation on their major projects. The Chinese are clearly assumming a leadership role in space in Asia. They're already making an EOS (earth observation system similar to NASA's) with HAPs (high altitude platforms) and a GPS system and will get a new carrier rocket before the Ares come out! Hell, they're planning to get a space station finished only a few years after the ISS gets completed. I can clearly see why Griffin expects them to get to the Moon before the US, and probably establish settlements too.

I guess when you don't have to worry about a near trillion dollar bailout and an impending economic disastor you can focus on actual development.

 

[Genx87]

I have to present this.

China Launches First Man Into Space

 

[Red Dawn]

Well if I were one of the other Asian Astronauts I'd be afraid of drink Chinese Tang.

 

[bdude]

Hm, I'll defer any opinion on China's space exploration until they land on the moon.

 

[Dari]

Not sure why they're doing this considering Japan would never join and the Asian countries in central Asia have a very close relationship with Russia as far as space exploration is concerned.

 

[bdude]

Originally posted by: Dari
Not sure why they're doing this considering Japan would never join and the Asian countries in central Asia have a very close relationship with Russia as far as space exploration is concerned.

Maybe that was the purpose...

 

[sunzt]

Originally posted by: Genx87
I have to present this.

China Launches First Man Into Space

:roll: but funny nonetheless hehe.

Originally posted by: bdude
Hm, I'll defer any opinion on China's space exploration until they land on the moon.

Seems like the same approach used by investors about economic disastor, and then it actually happened.

 

[CanOWorms]

The NASA chief actually went there a couple of years ago to explore space cooperation. However, much of the Chinese space program is run by their military.

 

[sunzt]

Originally posted by: CanOWorms
The NASA chief actually went there a couple of years ago to explore space cooperation. However, much of the Chinese space program is run by their military.

True. However, the DOD has a very intense space program as well. There's lots of payloads that get launched where NASA doesn't even know its contents. Even many of NASA's civillian satellites are designed to have military capabilities and uses.