Hi folks,
I just returned from an evening event with ESA astronaut Ulf Merbold.
This event made me wonder about manned spaceflight programms.
While ESA has its own astronaut corps and has developed its own module for the ISS, they depend on the partnership of either NASA or Russia in order to get their astronauts and their hardware into orbit.
I wondered what your opionons are: Do you think that's all right the way it is or should Europe develope its own programm to lift off their astronauts. Or rather save the costs and keep on cooperating?
What do you think about Chinas (succesfull) attempts of launching taikonauts into space? Will that start a new space race? Would that be a good thing?
Should other nations develope a manned space programm, too?
I would love to hear about your opinions, wherever you are from, US, Europe, Russia, China and the rest of this wonderful planet.

Stefan

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I would love to see ESA go in to a partnership with the Russians, this would save a mountain of cash and years of research and development time (and lets face it, we haven't had a whole lot of luck with Ariane).

The Russians have tried and tested technology and are the undisputed masters of long duration spaceflight, knowledge and experiance we will need if Europeans are going to get to Mars. The added bonus is the cash flowing into the Russian space program would help prop up their own programs and research.

I hope China's manned space program does spark a new space race, we have spent way too long in low Earth orbit.

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> I would love to see ESA go in to a partnership with the Russians, this would
> save a mountain of cash and years of research and development time (and lets
> face it, we haven't had a whole lot of luck with Ariane).
>
> The Russians have tried and tested technology and are the undisputed masters
> of long duration spaceflight, knowledge and experiance we will need if
> Europeans are going to get to Mars. The added bonus is the cash flowing into
> the Russian space program would help prop up their own programs and research.
>
> I hope China's manned space program does spark a new space race, we have spent
> way too long in low Earth orbit.
>
> Support-Aurora.org.uk - Put
> Europeans On Mars!
>

> S@h
> Berkeley's Staff Friends Club ©
>
>The problem with this is that the Russians are already partners in the ISS.

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> I would love to see ESA go in to a partnership with the Russians, this would
> save a mountain of cash and years of research and development time (and lets
> face it, we haven't had a whole lot of luck with Ariane).

I agree. Actually I can remember that some 9 months ago a German newsmagazine carried an article saying that ESA and Russia are negotiating about a privileged partnership (or membership) of Russia in ESA.
Haven't heard anything else about it afterwards. Does anyone know wether these talks are still underway, let to nothing or if that was just bogus?

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Stephen wrote:
>The problem with this is that the Russians are already partners in the
> ISS.
>
Well, so is Europe.
A more intense relationship between Europe and Russia won't mean an ending of participation in the ISS project.
I guess ISS would even benefit.

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> I would love to hear about your opinions, wherever you are from, US, Europe,
> Russia, China and the rest of this wonderful planet.
>
> Stefan
>

Stefan,
I don/t think there will be another space race unless there is, a major
threat from other countries, cold war of some kind or a major amount of money
to be had.

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When I met cosmonauts Yuri Lonchakov and Mikhail Tyurin last year, they were talking about a partnership on a Mars program with America. I don't recall them mentioning anything about a partnership with Europe, but I have certainly heard rumours of Russia joining ESA from other sources.

Fingers crossed!



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