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(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 |
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(Solar) winds of change ?
"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 |
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(Solar) winds of change ?
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 +++ |
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