[FPSPACE] linked article on India/China space assessment

[Peter Pesavento]

http://sify.com/news/fullstory.php?id=14860025

 

The article's expert, a Dr. Fischer, is perhaps a bit over the top, in his
comment about telescopes and lasers.  You be the judge.  

 


Review space programme, US expert urges India 


 


Sunday, 22 February , 2009, 03:38 


 




New Delhi: India should undertake a strategic and comprehensive review of
its space programmes as quickly as possible given "the military character
and military functions" of China's space programme, a senior US expert in
Asian military affairs said on Saturday. 

Painting a "horror picture" of China's rapidly expanding global military
reach, Richard Fischer Jr., a senior fellow at the International Assessment
and Strategy Center in the US, said Indian private universities should begin
satellite or space development programmes as has been done in the United
States. 

Initiating a discussion on "Chinese military modernisation" at the Observer
Research Foundation, a public policy think tank here, he said China's space
and satellite programmes have a military character and military functions. 

After Chandrayaan, <http://sify.com/news/fullstory.php?id=14857547>  ISRO
readies for twin launch 

Given this, he stressed on the need to develop satellite and space
technologies to counter China's advancement in these areas. 

"We have to look forward to China performing military activities from moon,"
Fischer said, noting that Beijing's moon programme spokesman had said the
team to moon would carry telescopes and lasers. 

"What are they going to do with laser and telescope on the moon?" he
wondered. 

Fischer said the Chinese moon programme had even forced the US to take a
re-look at its own lunar programme and to give it high priority with the
necessary funds even at a time of economic meltdown. 

ISRO to train <http://sify.com/news/fullstory.php?id=14784520>  astronauts
for manned space mission 

He said the satellite programmes, to be developed by private Indian
universities after obtaining legal permission, should be "completely outside
the government's tentacles". 

"If China can develop A-Sats and SLVs, why can't India?" he asked, offering
India a seat in the US's second moon programme on a bilateral or trilateral
basis. 

He said even Russia might be offering India such cooperation as it had
offered to China. 

He said India should make "necessary hard choices in these trying
circumstances". 

 

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