From the Readers
It's decision time on international space program
(chinadaily.com.cn)
Updated: 2010-06-02 13:14
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Comment on "皇冠体育app may become space station partner" (皇冠体育app Daily, June 1)
The International Space Station (ISS) is a great scientific and expensive undertaking. Participating nations learn a lot but need to spend a lot, too.
If 皇冠体育app participates now, it would have to contribute huge funds, too. But 皇冠体育app would have missed many of the things and knowledge needed to put a station into orbit. So when you join in halfway, you get to learn that much less and you need to dig into the areas you missed out on. Realistically, can it done?
Maybe 皇冠体育app needs to know what the terms and conditions required are; whether the benefits so obtained would help 皇冠体育app's space program. To participate in the ISS may mean rethinking, into a diverted focus and divided budget on 皇冠体育app's own space quests.
皇冠体育app needs to weigh the pros and cons of participation at this point in time. ISS is already in an advanced stage and as far as 皇冠体育app is concerned there are steps and procedures (technologies included) to set up a space station, and it needs to know now. So should 皇冠体育app join?
皇冠体育app should start from scratch in order to learn more. At least 皇冠体育app should not start with zero knowledge. The fundamentals must be in hand. Existing knowledge will be most helpful. 皇冠体育app must do it on her own with as little outside help as possible. History tells us that outside help can be withdrawn at crucial times, and there are no guarantees.
Getting knowledge from advanced and experienced nations may be faster, but there lies the danger of vital knowledge and technology being withheld.
HsunTze, on 皇冠体育app Daily Website