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| Science & Technology |
| China will study how to build a massive spacecraft over a half-mile long |
| 2021-08-30 |
| h/t Instapundit [digitaltrends]-The Chinese government is inviting scientists to help build an enormous, 1 kilometer (0.6 miles) long spacecraft that it wants to construct in orbit. The wild concept is to build a giant orbiting craft the size of 10 city blocks from components sent up by rockets one piece at a time. The concept is outlined in a project document from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (in the attachment titled "Guide for major projects of the Ministry of Mathematical Sciences"), which describes how the organization is looking for proposals for constructing an "ultra-large spacecraft with a size of one kilometer," saying this goal represents "a major strategic aerospace equipment for the future use of space resources, exploration of the mysteries of the universe, and long-term living in orbit." But they don't have proper pronouns! |
| Posted by:g(r)omgoru |
| #13 a much, much smaller object in an opposite orbit 1/2 M V Squared, baby! With the accent on the V. But Han who pull heavenly wagon The name China - Chung Quo - means Middle Kingdom, halfway between the gods in Heaven and us big-nosed barbarians down here on Earth. Having a ginormous orbital station would be a nice piece of symbolic propaganda and testament to Han Superiority(tm). |
| Posted by: SteveS 2021-08-30 21:30 |
| #12 An object in orbit struck by a much, much smaller object in an opposite orbit will have a very, very bad day. |
| Posted by: Rob Crawford 2021-08-30 21:13 |
| #11 "Possibry bollow flum Raszro. Memly velly serective ratery." |
| Posted by: Thuling McGurque7901 2021-08-30 19:42 |
| #10 Confucius say, "Pardon my bragging, But Han who pull heavenly wagon Is man of great strength, Flexibility, length, And drink tea made from penis of dragon." |
| Posted by: Thuling McGurque7901 2021-08-30 19:38 |
| #9 Hey, someone has to. |
| Posted by: Rex Mundi 2021-08-30 19:14 |
| #8 Will it be hackable? |
| Posted by: Procopius2k 2021-08-30 17:25 |
| #7 However controls the orbitals controls Earth. |
| Posted by: g(r)omgoru 2021-08-30 15:51 |
| #6 Half mile long 'Rods from God' platform. That can hold a lot of Rods. Depending on the orbit they can threaten just about anyone. |
| Posted by: CrazyFool 2021-08-30 14:23 |
| #5 It's also a really big target. |
| Posted by: M. Murcek 2021-08-30 14:16 |
| #4 Part of the purpose of the Great Wall of China was to "overawe barbarians" |
| Posted by: magpie 2021-08-30 14:11 |
| #3 A half-mile long spaceship in Earth orbit is basically a forward operating base on the highest of the high ground. |
| Posted by: SteveS 2021-08-30 13:53 |
| #2 Great. We've gone from Space Battleship to Space Junk. |
| Posted by: swksvolFF 2021-08-30 13:48 |
| #1 The whole dang society seems to be compensating for something. No matter how unworkable and unstable their designs, bigness is a must. 'Exploration of the mysteries of the universe'. Like gravity. |
| Posted by: Dron66046 2021-08-30 13:02 |