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The New Space Race: China vs. the USA
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.
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.
- GenresSpace
256 pages, Paperback
First published November 13, 2009
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
March 4, 2015
Too much of American perspective. It's a pity that author didn't consult Chinese sources sufficiently.
March 8, 2013
Seedhouse offers an insightful technical view of the potentialities for a Sino-US space race. However, his analysis of the dynamics that will shape it are overly simplistic. Moreover, his overuse of exclamation marks throughout the book is exceedingly frustrating!
The biggest problem I found with this is Seedhouse's view that Taiwan is the major Sino-US issue, but then arguing that the Chinese are going to space in part to reassert their position as a global leader. These issues are in large part mutually exclusive. Any gains made by the Chinese is achieving the prestige of a moon landing would be lost by the resort to force to reintegrate Taiwan. Therefore, the goals would be mutually exclusive.
Although Seedhouse points out the potential disconnect within the Chinese hierarchy over some major foreign policy/military issues (the ASAT test apparently being the case in point), it is unlikely that there would be such a divergence on major issues such as increasing Chinese influence through a demonstration of its technological prowess, and ruining it by invading Taiwan.
This is a major oversight in a book that seeks to explore the potential of the Sino-American race in space.
The biggest problem I found with this is Seedhouse's view that Taiwan is the major Sino-US issue, but then arguing that the Chinese are going to space in part to reassert their position as a global leader. These issues are in large part mutually exclusive. Any gains made by the Chinese is achieving the prestige of a moon landing would be lost by the resort to force to reintegrate Taiwan. Therefore, the goals would be mutually exclusive.
Although Seedhouse points out the potential disconnect within the Chinese hierarchy over some major foreign policy/military issues (the ASAT test apparently being the case in point), it is unlikely that there would be such a divergence on major issues such as increasing Chinese influence through a demonstration of its technological prowess, and ruining it by invading Taiwan.
This is a major oversight in a book that seeks to explore the potential of the Sino-American race in space.
April 29, 2010
Seedhouse has very detailed information on the Chinese space program, though he concentrated mostly on the hardware and taikonauts and very little on the scientists. It could be that the information simply wasn't available.
For the most part the writing was EXTREMELY dry. When Seedhouse cited government documents, they were refreshing in comparison.
Another problem I had was that it concentrates entirely on the military and political consequences of China's program instead of it's potential impact on science. I understand that China's advancement could pose security threats to the US, but I didn't want to read an entire book about it.
For the most part the writing was EXTREMELY dry. When Seedhouse cited government documents, they were refreshing in comparison.
Another problem I had was that it concentrates entirely on the military and political consequences of China's program instead of it's potential impact on science. I understand that China's advancement could pose security threats to the US, but I didn't want to read an entire book about it.
March 14, 2013
Too many exclamation points. Too many assertions based on little (or at least undocumented) evidence. Convoluted at times.
Good technical review, though, of various capabilities.
One note: China can't "take out" the three GPS birds over Taiwan. They're not in Geosynchronous orbit. Lots of GPS satellites service that area of the globe, just like (almost) every other area.
Good technical review, though, of various capabilities.
One note: China can't "take out" the three GPS birds over Taiwan. They're not in Geosynchronous orbit. Lots of GPS satellites service that area of the globe, just like (almost) every other area.
March 30, 2013
Very factual and also hevily tilted to the military space-race. Informative if not great reading.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews