Chinese Moon Base by 2012 - or 2006? 978
apsmith writes "Former congressman and House Science chairman Robert S. Walker has written some rather striking conclusions about Chinese intentions in space over the next few years, based on information received for the recent Commisison on the Future of Aerospace. Walker is convinced the Chinese are going all-out for a permanent settlement on the Moon within 10 years; apparently some closer to the situation in Japan think the first landing will be in only 3-4 years. Meanwhile the Economist says IT people are starting to focus on space as the next high-tech venue. Fortunately, despite NASA's neglect, we do have a few private missions to the Moon in the works."
Too late... (Score:3, Funny)
2001 has come and gone. Still , watch out for large black rectangular prisms once you start building.
Re:"Fortunately" ??? (Score:5, Funny)
This is all part of the plan at NASA (Score:5, Funny)
Still faster.. (Score:2, Funny)
I could order food from their moonbase and it will still get to my house on earth faster than from the restaurant down the street.
Where to put them (Score:2, Funny)
I think china needs the moon to some of their billions of people!
No problem (Score:3, Funny)
Oh No! Nuke Them! (Score:5, Funny)
Since we have about 4 Future Technologies already, I beileve we should launch a full scale attack on China, take our scientific research down to 0% to collect as much gold as possible, and start building our own.
While we are at it, we probably shouldn't ask for a UN vote, we will surely fail, and lose there too.
What would be America's best way to win? We've already secured some oil resources, we need to build a harbor!
Re:Too late... (Score:2, Funny)
The construction team of the US Patriot Moon settlement is reporting a disturbance in the magnetic field of the moon. Coming from the epicenter of the disturbance is loud, annoying string music. Excavation at the site is to begin immediately.
Re:why even bother? (Score:2, Funny)
Maybe a mars mission would be done for ideological reasons.
Maybe they want to make the red planet the, er, red planet.
Bob.
If you believe in that sort of thing... (Score:1, Funny)
In all seriousness though, just think about how cheaply they could produce kung fu movies in space w/o having to spend all that extra money on wires and CGI for the Shaolin flying kicks and jumps! Err... that's reason enough to try isn't it?
idiots (Score:1, Funny)
PROUD AMERICA (Score:0, Funny)
America, stop being so pathetic!
Re:"Fortunately" ??? (Score:5, Funny)
NASA's new motto will undoubtedly be (Score:1, Funny)
Someone has to say it (Score:2, Funny)
2. ???
3. ???
4. ???
5. profit!
Seriously, a moonbase is really tough to justify right now. There are all the enlightened arguments about science etc. but wouldn't it be much nicer if we first developed life support and automated mining/manufacturing technologies here on Earth, and then went up once it becomes economical to do so? We would even do more science that way in the long run.
As usual, we do it first .. (Score:0, Funny)
Re:"Fortunately" ??? (Score:5, Funny)
So does this mean... (Score:3, Funny)
Happy meal toys (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Good for them! (Score:5, Funny)
You want them to be more woken up? Not me. The USA is acting likes it's on a caffine and sugar high at the moment.
USA Hey, maybe we should bomb Syria? Or Iran? You know, for world peace?
Rest of world Erm. Let's just think about it for a bit, shall we?
USA What?! [Crazy stare] Are you threatening me? Huh, huh? I thought you were my friend? Well you're no friend of mine. You want a fight? Huh? Huh? I can take you all on...
I, for one, would prefer the USA to take a bit of a nap, rather than being woken up!
Re:Oh No! Nuke Them! (Score:1, Funny)
The US Govt response to this threat (Score:4, Funny)
The United States Government's Department of Homeland Security has announced that Robert Heinlein is now wanted under the U.S. Patriot Act for sponsoring terrorism. His idea of using the moon as a base to attack Americans will not be tolerated.
Re:Big picture (Score:2, Funny)
I always considered the moon landing an achievement for the entire human race.
That's likely because you're not American.
strange idea (Score:2, Funny)
Human Rights Abuse (Score:1, Funny)
Re: Chinese Restaurant on the moon (Score:5, Funny)
(rimshot)
Thanks, I'll be here all week...
Git orf ma land! (Score:2, Funny)
Re:Guys, perspective!! (Score:5, Funny)
Yeah, but they have the labor to build so many bad rockets, all they'd have to do is stack them up and climb to the moon. :-)
Re:Wakeup call (Score:2, Funny)
[The Moon] ain't the kind of place to raise your kids. In fact it's cold as hell. And there's no one there to raise them if you did...
Switching to fundamentalism? (Score:2, Funny)
I thought we already had.
I don't get it... (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Good for them! (Score:2, Funny)
You want them to be more woken up? Not me. The USA is acting likes it's on a caffine and sugar high at the moment.
i wouldn't exactly call it a sugar high . . .
Re:Good for them! (Score:4, Funny)
Law and Order: Loose Cannon in Iraq, starring Bush Jr, featuring other meaningless sides as necessary.
USA: I know that scumbag over there is committing these n+1 crimes, in addition to being a total jerk. [full list of crimes, from pedophilia to narcotic crimes follows]
... police gets to guy's door, kicks it in, breaks furniture, yells at wife to find out where the villain is, scares the kid, etc. etc.
World: Um, ok, yeah he is an asshole... so show us the evidence, and we'll get him convicted. He had done some pretty bad stuff earlier... but due to super powers not caring back then, got away.
USA: Ok, here are the rumours I heard, which pretty much prove he's done it all. Plus I KNOW he's guilty.
World: Uh uh... err, that's not, like, evidence yet. We can't just go in like loose cannons can we?
USA: D'oh! You pussy yellow-livered liberals! I'm going in, getting the villain, then show you the #%*)$^ evidence!
USA: Come on, Tony, let's take care of this scumbag here and now!
USA: Ok, here here! Listen to this; I found out the guy was a bad husband, drinking too much, neglecting kids! Yee-haw! 1 - 0 for law and order!
World: Right, bad bad guy... but where's the evidence of crimes you listed, from making crystal meth to leading a child porn ring?
USA: Um, yeah, those things I said I knew he dun... like, who cares, he was a bad guy wasn't he?
USA: But enough bickering about details... now, see, the house is a mess, door broken, need to be fixed, costs money... errr... guys, let's collect some dough, don't be stingy here, help the poor people out! Seems like I forgot my checkbook, but, hey, that's what friends are for right?
World: Did we ask you to kick door in, slap kids, throw chairs around, piss on the porch? Did we say we'll foot the bill on this stupid cowboy stunt?
World: But ok, guess we have to help to clean up the mess. As usual. But only because the family is ruined, and you are the big bully that will just kick our butt too if we don't.
USA: Oh but hey, here's the solution; the dude had a car that I can sell to my friends over at Deal-a-Car, for low price... that should cover something. Then I can also take these electronics, that could pay something small... and here's something other valuable I can loot I mean use for helping these poor folks here!
Re:Good for them! (Score:3, Funny)
Another reason for ME to go to the moon.... (Score:3, Funny)
What do you think taxes are going to be like....or am I behind already?
Obligatory Werner Von Braun reference (Score:3, Funny)
(spoken introduction)
What is it that put America in the forefront of the nuclear nations? And
what is it that will make it possible to spend $20 billion of your money
to put some clown on the moon? Well, it was good old American know-how
that's what, as provided by good old Americans like Dr. Wernher Von
Braun.
(breaks into song)
Gather round while I sing you of Wernher Von Braun
A man whose allegiance is ruled by expedience.
Call him a Nazi, he won't even frown
"Ha, Nazi schmazi", says Wernher Von Braun.
Don't say that he's hypocritical
Say rather that he's apolitical.
"Once the rockets are up who cares where they come down,
That's not my department" says Wernher Von Braun.
Some have harsh words for this man of renown
But some think our attitude should be one of gratitude.
Like the widows & cripples in old London town
Who owe their large pensions to Wernher Von Braun.
You too may be a big hero
Once you've learnt to count backwards to zero.
"In German or English I know how to count down,
Und I'm learning Chinese" says Wernher Von Braun.
Will the Chinese base (Score:2, Funny)
Re:I don't get it... (Score:3, Funny)
duhhh!!
Re:Good for them! (Score:2, Funny)
Space wars!!!??
AWESOME!!
"It shouldn't matter what country does it." (Score:2, Funny)
Re:not to be pedantic (Score:2, Funny)
Which Calendar? (Score:2, Funny)
- shazow
2012? (Score:2, Funny)
Re:Water's not the only liquid in universe (Score:3, Funny)