(Solar) winds of change ?

Two articles of interest:

http://www.cnn.com/2003/TECH/space/0...eut/index.html
"Europe takes aim at U.S. space monopoly"

"Because the United States has focused on its military applications, Europe
is seizing an opportunity to build a new system tailored to civilians, which
now outnumber military users 100 to 1.
In contrast to GPS, which is run by the Pentagon, Galileo will be run by
civilians. It promises greater continuity and broader coverage than GPS,
potentially giving it a leg up in key applications such as traffic
management.
"The United States could end up ceding leadership in civil navigation to
Europe," said Jeffrey Bialos, former head of the U.S. delegation for
negotiations on GPS and Galileo and an official at the Pentagon under the
Clinton administration. "
-----------------------------

The other:

http://www.businessweek.com/magazine...1/b3844086.htm
"Commentary: What's Shooting Down Satellite Sales "

It's hard to find a more loyal customer for U.S. satellites than Telesat
Canada. In the past 30 years, this unit of BCE Inc. has bought 14 birds, all
from south of the border. But in March the Ottawa company announced it was
buying a spacecraft from France's Astrium. After gaining experience with the
new gear, Telesat will be less likely to return to U.S. suppliers: "It's
very much easier to buy a second and a third," notes Roger J. Tinley,
Telesat's vice-president for space systems.

What caused the shift? The inability of Congress to distinguish between an
aircraft carrier and a TV satellite. In 1998, lawmakers put satellites on
the State Dept.'s munitions list alongside traditional weapons, imposing the
strictest export standards. Licensing, monitoring, and notifying Congress of
each export deal may work for selling fighters to foreign governments but
doesn't fly in the commercial world. "It's very difficult to do business
with U.S. companies," Tinley gripes.
-----------------------------

Do we see a trend here ?
Comments ?

-kert

"Kaido Kert" wrote in message
...
http://www.businessweek.com/magazine...1/b3844086.htm
"Commentary: What's Shooting Down Satellite Sales "
Just one comment to the last article,

"Export curbs make little sense when applied to "dual-use" items --
products, such as computers, with both military and commercial
applications -- that are available in many places. Customers who want to
continue buying U.S. technology suffer the delays but eventually get
licenses, while terrorists and unfriendly states bypass the system"

The whole hobby rocketry squashing effort has been sold under a "dual-use"
technology concept too. Some "engineers" are claiming that APCP and hobby
rockets can be turned into bombs, ballistic or even ( gasp ) guided missiles
very easily. Good luck trying.
The next dangerous technology that should go: RC models. There are some
potentially very dangerous things that you could do with R/C piloted hobby
models. I just ran across a modified robotic Raptor copter project, that did
remote imaging. Thats just totally out of kontrol !

-kert

Kaido Kert wrote:
"Kaido Kert" wrote in message
...
http://www.businessweek.com/magazine...1/b3844086.htm
"Commentary: What's Shooting Down Satellite Sales "
Just one comment to the last article,

"Export curbs make little sense when applied to "dual-use" items --
products, such as computers, with both military and commercial
applications -- that are available in many places. Customers who want to
continue buying U.S. technology suffer the delays but eventually get
licenses, while terrorists and unfriendly states bypass the system"

By all evidence, it takes multiple years of heavy lobbyng accompanied by
at least near-collapse of the US indidinegous segment of the product is
what is needed for even small changes to happen.


The whole hobby rocketry squashing effort has been sold under a "dual-use"
technology concept too. Some "engineers" are claiming that APCP and hobby
rockets can be turned into bombs, ballistic or even ( gasp ) guided missiles
very easily. Good luck trying.
The next dangerous technology that should go: RC models. There are some
potentially very dangerous things that you could do with R/C piloted hobby
models. I just ran across a modified robotic Raptor copter project, that did
remote imaging. Thats just totally out of kontrol !

sarcasm
And just think of the applications for terrorists and "rogue states"
will find for these innocent-looking things which they of course can't
get from anywhere else than the US.
/sarcasm

-kert


--
Sander

+++ Out of cheese error +++