Chinese space official seems unimpressed with NASA's lunar gateway
This week, the European and Chinese space agencies held a workshop in Amsterdam to discuss cooperation between Europe and China on lunar science missions. The meeting comes as Europe seems increasingly content to work with China on spaceflight programs.
Although the meeting is not being streamed online, space systems designer and lunar exploration enthusiast Angeliki Kapoglou has been providing some coverage of the meeting via Twitter. Among the most interesting things she has shared are slides from a presentation by Pei Zhaoyu, who is deputy director of the Lunar Exploration and Space Program Center of the China National Space Administration.
[...] Overall, Pei does not appear to be a fan of NASA's plan to build a deep space gateway, formally known as the Lunar Orbital Platform-Gateway, at a near-rectilinear halo orbit. Whereas NASA will focus its activities on this gateway away from the Moon, Pei said China will focus on a "lunar scientific research station."
[...] So far, NASA has yet to finalize commitments with Europe, Russia, or other International Space Station partners on contributions to the gateway. While European officials are interested, it seems like they may also be willing to go along with China if that country has a more direct plan to land humans on the Moon.
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(Score: 2) by PartTimeZombie on Wednesday July 18 2018, @03:15AM (3 children)
Sure, why not.
I can't see any downside at all. Surely if the Indians, the Chinese, Europe, the US, and the Russians are all trying different stuff in space we will figure out what works best quicker.
Or maybe just do different things with different goals.
I am not sure how a Space Force helps however.
(Score: 4, Funny) by c0lo on Wednesday July 18 2018, @03:24AM
Umm... how 'bout: "someone will need to professionally grope those space tourists at the terminal"?
And if you pay them peanuts, at least let them have a fancy title.
(grin)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoFiw2jMy-0 https://soylentnews.org/~MichaelDavidCrawford
(Score: 2, Troll) by realDonaldTrump on Wednesday July 18 2018, @03:24AM
Space is a war-fighting domain, just like the land, air & sea. Imagine we have a war in space but our military isn't out there. Probably we lose, right? Very badly. Which will be a DISASTER for our Country. Space Force is going to be the 6th branch of our great military. And it's vital to ensuring America continues to lead the way into the stars. Because we are spending a lot and we have a lot of private money coming in. TREMENDOUS!!!
(Score: 2) by Runaway1956 on Wednesday July 18 2018, @02:45PM
Someone is going to have to make first contact with the aliens. Grunts with guns are usually first. And, they'll tell you that the aliens taste just like chicken!