10/15/2018

Space exploration and cooperation - Politics is out

The failure of a Soyuz rocket to bring two astronauts to the International Space Station marks the ending of an era of space exploration where the Americans were calling the shot. After their failed mission to send astronauts to space with a batch of highly trained astronauts killed when Apollo exploded on take off, the Americans have lost confidence in their own rockets. They have tacked on to the Russians and the Soyuz rockets to send American astronauts to the ISS.

The failure of the latest launch is going to be a watershed in American/Russian space exploration. The big question, would the Russians be able to sort out the problems before the next mission? In the meantime the Americans are still crowing about their superiority in space technology and keeping China at a distance, obstructing China from participating in ISS and from sending Chinese astronauts to the space station. They are still calling the shot to sideline China despite being passengers in Russian rockets.

NASA's top official Bridenstine was quoted to say that in space exploration, politics has been kept separate from such cooperation. The cunning Americans are saying this because they desperately needed the Russian rockets to send American astronauts to space. Without the Russian's cooperation, they would have to play out their space exploration act in the Californian desert. But when dealing with China, politics would not be kept separated from space exploration and they would die die want to keep China out of the international space programme.  This is what the hawkish John Bolton said recently, '''If they're (China) put back in the proper place they would be if they weren't allowed to steal our technology, their military capabilities would be substantially reduced. And a lot of the tensions we see caused by China would be reduced,"... He indicated that Washington was prepared to take more action to restrict sensitive high-tech exports to China. "We did this and continue to do it in terms of dual-use technology that could affect nuclear, chemical or biological weapons or ballistic-missile development.' Quote from CNA.

The silly Americans like John Bolton may continue to blindly brag about their superiority in technology in particular space technology. This idiot is so ignorant about the dismal fate coming the American way when the ISS outlived its expiry date in 2024. But the day of reckoning would come knocking earlier.

At this moment there are 3 astronauts in the ISS, an American, a German and a Russian. They were due to return home in December but the flight is delayed until further notice pending the Russians confirming they could fly the next rocket. And there is only enough food till April next year in the ISS. If the Russians were unable to resolve their rocket problems, these 3 men would be mummified in the ISS. There is no reliable American rocket that can do the job of flying them home.

Would the Americans come crawling and crying to Beijing and beg China to help them bring their astronaut home? Would they be chiding the Chinese not to get politics involved in space exploration, forgetting that they were the bastards that have kept the Chinese out of the international space exploration programme and from joining the ISS?  Would idiots like John Bolton be still shouting about their superiority in space technology and wanting to keep China from stealing their technology or would they be desperately trying to steal Chinese space technology or Chinese rockets?

For the moment, NASA have made meek advances to China to want to be let into China's Space Station, which would be the only station in space after ISS came to the end of its lifespan in 2024. China would be stupid to allow the Americans in by the backdoor after being kept out of the ISS for so many decades by American hostility and arrogance.

The story of American astronaut trapped in the ISS is still evolving and will hit critical stage come next year if the Russians are unable to launch another rocket to the space station. Time is ticking away. What goes around would come around. The Americans must have a taste of their bad medicine.

The next big American anti China hooha could be 'Save American astronaut from Space' with the American politicising the issue and branding China as a heartless nation, not willing to cooperate and help to save poor American astronaut dying in space station. And all the silly Americans and bananas would rise to echo the American shitty political agenda.






22 comments:

Whoever said...

The USA must one day meet its just dessert for the tremendous evils it has done to the world.

China must persist on her path to become the ONLY SUPER POWER in the world for a BETTER WORLD!

Titiana Ann Xavier said...

20 years ago, China did not have any of the world's top tech companies. Today it has 9 while Uncle Sam has 11 in the top 20. Edward Tse told SCMP that the Chinese are fully embracing AI, the Internet and block chain as well as 5G. Tech breakthroughs will enable a higher level of automation and more game-changing innovations. Mike Pence insulted the Chinese for their lack of talents and integrity. This will spur the Chinese to become the world's high-tech leader of mankind's Fourth Industrial revolution. Uncle Sam cannot stop the Chinese as China continues to make quantum leaps in industrial and space technological innovations.

Speedwing said...

A popular belief is that China will overtake the USA in Everything in year 2030 including space technology. It would be good to see the USA eating humble pies for a change.

Ⓜatilah $ingapura⚠️ said...

@ Star Wars fans

National space programs are all about national pride and science which is ultimately directed towards developing space weapons. It is expensive, and there is a lot of idiotic flag waving to see who has the biggest dick. This is all very boring.

I am more focused on wht the PRIVATE SECTOR is doing. Several cuntries now have private space enterprises in motion.

The most noticeable "fight" now is between Elon Musk's Space X and Jeff Bezos's Blue Origin. Musk, being the social media maven, gets a lot more exposure on the net and the international media. Bezos is a lot more "all business, let's go go go!". Both private companies have done marvels in terms of evolution and development, but IMO (and others) Bezos---whose space antics get less coverage than Musk's---has the TECHNICAL edge and the upper hand in terms of progress. The other player is Sir Richard with Virgin Galactic.

Bezos also has a lot more money to play with than Musk, but Bezos is also a MASTER of capital efficiency where as Musk is bleeding money and in huge debt because of Tesla.

As space becomes more weaponized by the activities of nation states, they are going to blow a shit ton of taxpayer funds in a fight for dominance in space.

Meanwhile, the guys in the private sector are going to make and lose a ton of money. Their losses won't be as large as nation states (they have to be careful with money), but the UPSIDE potential is---unknown, probably huge.

Go private sector! 🤑💪👌

Anonymous said...

Moderating voice like Mattis may leave Whitehouse leaving Bolton hawkish stance more prevalence in there.

Beway said...

If China agreed to help, it must be compensated by sending Trump and Bolton up to the space in exchange for the 3 astronauts. Fair deal.

Anonymous said...

No wonder Indonesia president said winter is coming.

Virgo49 said...

Hi Anon 11.41

Indon Presidents Past And Present and even the Asian Leaders knew the Winter came from the U Ass A but got no guts in unison to condemn them.

The Asian Financial Crisses of 97/98 is been repeated now in 18/19.

The Americans must plotted to upset all the Financial Systems and Devalued All other currencies to rock bottom as they can still churned out their Bananas Notes to suppress you.

George Sparrows/Sorrows and his Manipulative Gangs including the Dotard will gain.

Dotard main Agenda is his business killings and Sorros gaining his trillions.

Titiana Ann Xavier said...

POTUS Trump is running amok on the world stage. His oppression of the Palestinians, support for terrorists in Syria, and the latest threat he made against Saudi Arabia revealed his bizarre and erratic behaviour. Technology and economics have shifted the balance of power enabling Russia and China to emerge out from under the shadow of decades of Uncle Sam's global primacy. Trump's obsession on creating a 'space force' will bankrupt Uncle Sam. The Roman Empire overspent itself to death on military adventures. So will Uncle Sam.

Ⓜatilah $ingapura⚠️ said...

@ RB

>> The next big American anti China hooha could be 'Save American astronaut from Space' <<

Whilst that may be a possible scenario, I doubt it'll ever come to that. Why? Because if you the have money, you get to have options.

Although now put on hold, there were until recently commercial flights ferrying fee-paying rich cunts to the ISS.

For the right fee, almost anything can be arranged. 🤓

Anonymous said...

@ 1230 pm:

You mean Unscrupulous Sam, of course!

Titiana Ann Xavier said...

Chinese scientists are achieving rapid progress in quantum sensing. Quantum sensing used a number of technologies with direct military applications. In 2016, China launched the world's first quantum satellite, Micius. It was the first piece of a global quantum network for uncrackable communications. The PLA is aware that operational platforms that depend on space-based positioning systems can be easily jammed. Quantum sensing enables the PLA to become even more able to put Uncle Sam's space systems at risk as it makes more and more advances in counter-space capabilities.

Whoever said...

What Damage Can Saudi Arabia do to the World Economy?

If Saudi Arabia carries out its threat of retaliation, the consequences could be felt around the world

Saudi Arabia has the clout to hold the world at ransom in geopolitical and economic terms - a powerful hand to play against the US and the West if it follows through with its threat of retaliation

It is the world's biggest oil exporter, with a vast reserve of about 260 billion barrels untapped, and exporting about 7 million barrels a day. This gives Salman huge clout in the global economy because he wields the power to push up oil prices.

The Saudi state media, Al Arabiya, hints at what could be in store:

Salman is considering 30 measures to put pressure on the US if it were to impose sanctions over the disappearance, and presumed murder, of Jamal Khashoggi inside the Saudi’s Consulate in Istanbul.

The measures include an oil production cut aimed at driving oil prices from US$80 a barrel to more than US$400, more than the high of $147.27 in 2008.

This would have profound consequences globally, not just because it would force up the cost of all goods that travel by road, as well as water and electricity prices.

The Saudi also supports thousands of US jobs via its arms purchases. It is the world’s second-largest arms importer after India and 61% of those imports are from the US.

It signed the biggest arms deal with the US last year (US$17.5 bn), a trend that looks set to continue after Donald Trump signed a $110bn Defence Agreement with Salman.

The deal benefits Lockheed Martin, Boeing, General Electric and ExxonMobil. Some of the firms are reported to have expressed concern to Trump already about the impact that a freeze in Saudi-US relations might have.

Salman can simply switch his purchases to Russia and China.

Trump’s trip to the Arabian peninsula last year also yielded an agreement that the kingdom’s Public Investment Fund, which manages its vast oil wealth, would invest in US infrastructure programmes. The PIF is to stump up US$20 bn of a US$40 bn pot overseen by the global asset manager Blackstone.

Saudi Arabia has shown in the past that it is not afraid to leverage its unique political and economic position to get its own way. An investigation into allegations of bribery involving the British defence firm BAE Systems in the country was dropped under Tony Blair’s government in 2006. Blair said Riyadh had threatened to stop cooperating on intelligence matters, putting Britain at greater risk of a terrorist attack.

Saudi Arabia does have something to lose though, given that foreign money is a key plank of its plans to diversify its economy away from oil and address a high unemployment rate of nearly 13%.

The Saudi stock market plunged by as much as 7%, or around $33bn, over fears about the ramifications of the country’s threat of retaliation against the US.

International investors are already turning their backs, and a number of high-profile names have pulled out of an investment conference later this month dubbed “Davos in the Desert”.

How will Singapore be affected? One thing is sure: whichever way the wind blows, PAP will benefit and Sinkies will be perpetual suckers and losers!

Anonymous said...

So they have a symbiotic relationship! Then any action taken by US might only be a slap on the wrist. Let's wait and see how US uphold the rule of law here.

Anonymous said...

The question is - do the Saudi's have backers like Russia, to retaliate against the US?

If the US instigate a regime change, what advantage would the Saudi's holding mass untapped reserves of oil bring them, if like Saddam Hussein, the kingdom falls to the evil empire?

Before the spat, the US and Saudi's are like bed mates in their relationship. No wonder they say, there are no permanent friends, only permanent enemies.

Whoever said...

Actually, the problems in Saudi Arabia in the last few years have been created by the Crown Prince. He is a very ruthless and power-crazy (in)human bean.

He assassinated his own uncles, brothers, and cousins in order to consolidate his power. Some have been.imprisoned or went into exile in neighboring countries. Even his own sister is not spared. (Rings a bell?)

He made his own father into a symbolic figure-head king, with very little power. He now controls almost every aspect of the Saudi government, from finance to military (sounds familiar?)

All the US has to do is to get rid of this (in)human bean and revert power to the Saudi king. But Trump has to move fast and act skilfully. The CIA is split into two camps - pro and against. So, it is no easy to do a regime change. Only way is "assassination".

Virgo49 said...

Whoever, and all these supposed to come from Human Beans who claimed to be Religious and Merciful.

All hogwash!

Anonymous said...

With strong backing from a superpower like US paid its wealth it is a flying tiger! But a boat can keep you afloat it can also sink drowning you. Mother tongue lessons teach that.

Anonymous said...

With strong US backing and plus its wealth and with Iran it's main enemy financially crumbling under US sanctions it is like tiger with wings. This relationship with US looks like very rock solid but when under stress it seems it will break easily.

Armchio at the retaliating measures promised by the state media of Arab Saudi against US.


Please please agitate John Bolton more!

Anonymous said...

Because of this uprising those royal houses in middle east cannot sleep in peace.

Wikipedia

Arab Spring

Arab Spring
Tunisia Unrest -
Caused by
Authoritarianism
Dictatorship
Demographic structural factors
2000s energy crisis
Political corruption
Human rights violations
Unemployment
Inflation
Kleptocracy
Poverty
Sectarianism
Self-immolation of Mohamed Bouazizi
Goals
Islamism
Democracy
Free elections
Economic freedom
Human rights
Employment
Regime change
Methods
Civil disobedience
Civil resistance
Demonstrations
Defection
Insurgency
Internet activism
Mutiny
Protests
Protest camps
Revolution
Riots
Self-immolation
Silent protests
Sit-ins
Social media activism
Strike actions
Urban warfare
Uprising
Resulted in
Arab Winter

Tunisia: President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali ousted, charged, exiled and government overthrown.
Egypt: President Hosni Mubarak ousted, arrested, charged, and government overthrown.
Libya: Leader Muammar Gaddafi killed following a civil war that saw a foreign military intervention, and government overthrown.
Yemen: President Ali Abdullah Saleh ousted, and power handed to a national unity government.
Syria: President Bashar al-Assad faced civil uprising against his rule that deteriorated into armed rebellion and eventual full-scale civil war.
Bahrain: Civil uprising against the government crushed by authorities and Saudi-led intervention.
Kuwait, Lebanon and Oman: Government changes implemented in response to protests.
Morocco and Jordan: Constitutional reforms implemented in response to protests.
Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Mauritania, and other Arab countries: Protests.
Casualties
Death(s)
523,488 - 523,492+ (International estimate; see table below)
The effects of the Tunisian Revolution spread strongly to five other countries: Libya, Egypt, Yemen, Syria and Bahrain, where either the regime was toppled or major uprisings and social violence occurred, including riots, civil wars or insurgencies. Sustained street demonstrations took place in Morocco, Iraq, Algeria, Iranian Khuzestan[citation needed], Lebanon, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman and Sudan. Minor protests occurred in Djibouti, Mauritania, the Palestinian territories, Saudi Arabia, and the Moroccan-controlled Western Sahara.[6] A major slogan of the demonstrators in the Arab world is ash-shaʻb yurīd isqāṭ an-niẓām ("the people want to bring down the regime").[7]

The wave of initial revolutions and protests faded by mid-2012, as many Arab Spring demonstrations were met with violent responses from authorities,[8][9][10] as well as from pro-government militias, counter-demonstrators and militaries. These attacks were answered with violence from protestors in some cases.[11][12][13] Large-scale conflicts resulted—the Syrian Civil War,[14][15] Iraqi insurgency and the following civil war,[16] the Egyptian Crisis, coup and subsequent unrest and insurgency,[17] the Libyan Civil War, and the Yemeni Crisis and following civil war.[18]


Anonymous said...

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad Salman thinks that he is Prophet Mohammed reincarnation and he wants to rule the Arab Muslim World. To do that he has to launch a crusade to conquer all the Middle-Eastern countries, starting with the smaller ones like Yemen. Bahrain, Qatar and Kuwaiti. That means he needs a very large, strong and powerful military. That's why he has signed a US$110 billion arms deal with the USA, and pretending to be a very close friend of the US.

His main target is Israel. But at present he pretends to be in good terms with Israel, while he focuses upon Stria, Iran and Turkey, the main obstacles to his Dream of a Middle-Eastern Islamic Kingdom.

After Saudi Arabia achieves its objective of "uniting" all the Arab countries under one rule, it will turn its head against Israel.

And Israel is not that stupid to wait until Mohammad Salman wields full power and controls the Middle-East. Before that, Israel would have carried out preemptive tactical nuclear strikes at Riyadh and other strategic targets.

What would the US and EU have done? Just standby and watch?

Virgo49 said...

This is the Country which is supposed to be A HOLY LAND in which millions and billions of their Religion paid Homage Yearly and if possible at least once in a lifetime.

Now, they admitted botch up job in the current murders.

What's baloney.