The New Space Race: China vs. USA: China vs. the United States (Springer Praxis Books)

The world’s most populous nation views space as an asset, not only from a technological and commercial perspective but also from a political one. The repercussions of this ideology already extend far beyond Washington. China vs. the United States explores future Chinese aspirations in space and the implications of a looming space race. Dr. Seedhouse provides background information on the fifteen-year history of the China National Space Administration and its long list of accomplishments. Sino-U.S. technological and commercial interests in space are discussed, including their interest in encouraging a potential space race. The national security objectives of the U.S. and China are also examined. The world s most populous nation views space as an asset, not only from a technological and commercial perspective, but also from a political and militaristic one. The repercussions of this ideology already extend far beyond Washington. China vs. United States offers a glimpse of future Chinese aspirations in space and the politico-militaristic implications of a looming space race, and explains why an interplanetary spaceship called the Tsien Hsue Shen might one day travel to the outer planets. Until China successfully launched taikonauts into orbit, China s space program had attracted little international attention. The book opens with an analysis of the short fifteen-year history of the China National Space Administration and its long list of accomplishments. Chapter 2 assesses Sino-U.S. technological and commercial interests in space and their implications in fuelling a potential space race. The national security objectives of the U.S. and China are examined, showing how their intentions are increasingly leading to the military integration of space technologies. Chapter 3 describes China s anxieties about U.S. space power, its obsession with national prestige, and how manned spaceflight is viewed as a crucial element to sustain the legitimacy of the Communist Party. China is currently focusing on similar goals to those of NASA s Constellation Program - lunar and Mars exploration. The following chapter examines the ambitious plans of both nations, and evaluates whether China s bold goal of landing taikonauts on the Moon by 2020 is matched by the necessary capability. In Chapter 5 Dr Seedhouse describes the space hardware being developed by the U.S. and China and the strides taken by China in its attempt to match the technological capability of the U.S. The following chapter provides an overview of China s introductory manned spaceflights and shows how, despite a lack of experience, the Chinese may soon be in a position to challenge the U.S. in a race to the Moon. In Chapter 7, the author discusses how China s manned space program can boost the country s international prestige and also examines the notion of manned spaceflight as a risky way to boost national status and the potential implications of a disaster akin to Challenger and Columbia. Chapter 8 addresses the questions of alliances and cooperation between NASA and ESA and China and Russia, or, alternatively, the U.S. and China pursuing their space ambitions alone. The implications of each way forward in the context of a looming competition in space are considered. Chapter 9 discusses the repercussions of a Chinese space program overtaking NASA and whether the U.S. has the political will to advance its own space program to prevent its position as sole space superpower being usurped. Given the mutual suspicions existing in both countries, it is perhaps inevitable that Washington and Beijing are on a collision course in space. The final chapter describes the implications of such a confrontation and discusses what, if anything, can be done to avert a new space race. Front Matter....Pages i-xxxi Front Matter....Pages 1-1 Rising dragon....Pages 3-22 US and Chinese space policy....Pages 23-48 Front Matter....Pages 49-50 Space warfare doctrine....Pages 51-77 Military space assets....Pages 79-106 Exploding China’s dreams....Pages 107-123 Front Matter....Pages 125-129 Chinese and American space exploration programs....Pages 131-151 Current and future hardware....Pages 153-181 Manned spaceflight experience....Pages 183-206 Front Matter....Pages 207-207 The case for and against collaboration with China....Pages 209-218 The imminent space race....Pages 219-230 Back Matter....Pages 231-250 Section 1, High frontier politics: Rising dragon US and China space policy Section 2, Dark arena: Space warfare doctrine Military space assets Exploding China's dreams Section 3, The second space race: Chinese and American space exploration programs Current and future hardware Manned spaceflight experience Section 4, Why cooperation won't work and why a new space race is looming: The case for and against collaboration with China The imminent space race.