Chinese space advances benefit everyone
http://www.usatoday.com/news/opinion...14-oberg_x.htm
USA TODAY, October 15, 2003

By James Oberg

What really is about to happen is ... momentous: For the first time since
1961, and only the third time in world history, a new nation will have
achieved independent human-spaceflight capability.

When the Chinese manned spacecraft Shenzhou 5 blasts off this week, it will
be carrying at least one astronaut and a sack of seeds for science
experiments. It also will be carrying a load of the world's high hopes — and
anxieties.

Some are certain to worry about China's real intentions in space. But
alongside that worrisome baggage is hopeful cargo: Simply by taking place,
China's mission will energize the existing space activities of other
countries by making old patterns of space partnerships obsolete.

It's about time.

Space programs in the United States, Europe and even Japan need a good kick
into gear. China's emergence adds a full-fledged third partner to what has
been mainly a U.S.-Russian alliance dictated by long-extinct diplomatic
considerations. China provides new options for projects during a crisis,
such as moving crews and cargo to the International Space Station (ISS) and
back.

Fears about China in space should not sidetrack people. This isn't the Cold
War of U.S.-Soviet confrontation, so a new high-budget "space race" isn't in
the cards. China is not racing us to establish a manned military station on
the moon. Nor is it assembling an orbiting battle fleet to neutralize
American space-based military tools. To imagine such threats is to fear
shadows. To respond as if they were real would be folly.

What really is about to happen is much more momentous: For the first time
since 1961, and only the third time in world history, a new nation will have
achieved independent human-spaceflight capability.

China has expended a great deal of its rare resources of talent and time,
and has taken enormous risks, to carry out this project. In the most basic
sense, this is a case of brave young men facing daunting psychological and
technical challenges and risking their lives to help mankind stretch its
abilities.

A Chinese human space program will have practical short- and long-term
benefits. It will enhance the commercial attractiveness of its high-tech
exports as well as the credibility of its aerospace military hardware.
Chinese science projects will get a lot more respect across the board. And
the prestige of the Beijing government will be enhanced both externally and
internally, as it receives a 21st century version of the classic "Mandate of
Heaven" needed by all previous Chinese rulers.

In the next few years, China plans to:

• Fly many more orbits in space, including experiments involving docking
small space labs together and visiting them periodically.

• Demonstrate that its Shenzhou vehicles are more sophisticated than
Russia's Soyuz spaceship and will be able to compete with NASA's redesigned
crew-transfer vehicle to carry astronauts and cargo between Earth and space
stations.

• Explore the moon with robot craft, including surface rovers.

• Have its own Mir-class space station by the end of the decade.

Because China's space vehicles use docking mechanisms that appear modeled
after Russia's, they should be compatible with the ISS. So China could
provide emergency support to the ISS, and symbolic visits are feasible. Just
the possibility of this is enough to energize the international partnerships
behind the space station.

While Beijing officials say China is opposed to the "weaponization" of
space, there are probably some military applications for Shenzhou. But these
would be mainly in the areas of observing other countries, both with
telescope cameras (to see structures on the ground) and with electronic
eavesdropping antennas (to locate radars and communications sites). Other
nations, the United States included, already have similar
space-reconnaissance activities underway. Adding another may be a positive s
tep: As the number of countries keeping an eye on each other increases, the
chances of military surprises are reduced, thus enhancing international
stability.

If there is a challenge involved, it is for the United States and other
space-faring nations to live up to their ideals and potentials in space.
Loss of focus leads to losses of lives and treasure, as we have been
bitterly reminded. Shenzhou's charge to other nations is to take space
seriously again.

As this brave team begins its fantastic voyages, we all can celebrate, just
as we hailed the feats of Yuri Gagarin, Neil Armstrong, Arnaldo
Tamayo-Mendez, Julie Payette and other pioneering earthlings.

Beyond the boundaries of Earth, the accomplishments of all earthlings
benefit everyone.

James Oberg, who spent 22 years at NASA Mission Control in Houston, is
writing a book on the national security uses of space.