Posted on Feb 20, 2009 07:00:36 PM | Steven Gonzalez | 29 Comments
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As we prepare for the next Shuttle mission I am reminded of the great photo that captured two Shuttle vehicles at their respective launch pads. It is easy to look at that picture and admire the incredible capability and accomplishments of our Human Space program. At the same time I can't help but wonder about the parable of the tortoise and the hare. If you recall the tortoise repeated over and over again, "Slow and steady wins the race."
During the month when this Shuttle photo was taken, Zhai Zhigang, the Shenzhou VII mission's commander, was the first taikonaut to take a walk in space. China's third human mission launched on Thursday, September 25th demonstrates China's steady efforts to establish a permanent Chinese Human presence in Space. Also in "mid-September, Moscow and Havana negotiated joint space projects. Anatoly Perminov, director of the Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos), said the sides had discussed the possibility of setting up a Cuban space center with Russian assistance." The interesting part of this editorial was the reference to Arnaldo Tamayo Mendez. I know who is Mr. Mendez? During the time that we were not flying and preparing for the first shuttle mission, Mr. Mendez was the first Cuban to go into space on September 18, 1980. Now 28 years later, we will probably have two additional space agencies within our western hemisphere. Two? Oh, did I forget to mention how our own astronaut, Jose Hernandez is working on a proposal with Mexico to establish Agencia Espacial Mexicana (Mexican Space Agency).
Yes, many will not see some of these efforts as ever gaining the momentum to challenge our leadership in space. This may be true, but what should be our strategy forward? There are new alliances and relationships being established in the international community that do not include NASA. Should we leverage these relationships or create new ones? If we were to strengthen our ties with India or initiate a new partnership with the Mexican Space Agency, what would it look like? Let me know what you think.
Sharing the Vision,
Steven González, Deputy, Advanced Planning Office
Tags : International
29 comments so far ( Post your own )
- 29
On Nov 17, 2009 08:59:14 AM
Beatrice
wrote:
Tomorrow may send a link to all the staff, then cool.
Beatrice- 28 On Nov 10, 2009 10:31:32 PM Kyle wrote:
I think it is great how so many other countries are making their way into space.
Kyle,
Second Chance Checking- 27 On Nov 10, 2009 03:25:06 PM steven wrote:
Yes, expeditions to Space should be an international effort, not just a measure of power for each country.
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- 26 On Nov 11, 2009 09:47:19 AM daniel wrote:
China is moving at a VERY fast pace. Also they have a much longer term mentality than most of use westerners!
I doubt it will be that long before China are right up there - pardon the pun!!
Wedding photographer Portrait photographer- 25 On Nov 10, 2009 03:09:43 AM sherone wrote:
Short of another Cold war there is realistically no way that the worlds governments will race to the moon and beyond. There isn't the government or public will for such prohibitively expensive projects when there is far more affordable and equally worthwhile scientific research that can be carried out on earth.
Perhaps humans putting the breaks on massively expensive academic scientific research and focusing on some of the more pressing matters that are blighting humanity for a decade or two wouldn't be such a bad thing in the long run
portable cabins- 24 On Nov 10, 2009 12:47:38 AM Johnny wrote:
Gosh, I never expect China's technology to progress THAT fast.
Coping Panic Attacks Effectively | Recovering from Panic Attacks | How to eliminate panic attacks- 23 On Nov 08, 2009 08:11:37 AM jimmy wrote:
Great for this information, China is another nation that growing up in space science.I am gland to here this news.I think all nations in the world would help each other to develop space technology. (free online advertising)
- 22 On Nov 05, 2009 01:51:58 PM guest wrote:
that picture was awesome. I think it is a good idea but should't limit a partner in space program.
- 21 On Nov 04, 2009 12:27:42 AM guest wrote:
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- 20 On Nov 04, 2009 11:50:27 PM rubina wrote:
Thank you for the heads up.This was quiet a useful blog..I began reading it and it took my interest till I read the entire story..Keep up the good work..
How to get rid of Stretch Marks|Stretch Marks |Teeth Whitening- 19 On Nov 02, 2009 08:46:38 PM guest wrote:
India's Space program is in good pace dare to say that China will not be as opened as the Western countries are. I do love Beijing by the
way.clubzad- 18 On Nov 02, 2009 04:09:32 PM Jack M. wrote:
China's Space program is in good pace & is emerging as a big powerful country. Maybe China's law is a strong. I think so that.
Jmainpage- 17 On Nov 03, 2009 07:28:01 AM jimmy wrote:
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- 16 On Nov 02, 2009 01:13:47 PM Que sera sera wrote:
China is another nation that growing up in space science.I am gland to here this news.I think all nations in the world would help each other to develop space technology.So in the next few years,we should go to live on Mars.appendicitis. I love this news.
- 15 On Nov 02, 2009 03:06:18 PM narong wrote:
China is emerging as a big powerful country inevitble by the power display during their independence day celebration last week
I think so.- 14 On Oct 30, 2009 08:33:23 PM guest wrote:
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- 13 On Oct 30, 2009 04:17:24 PM guest wrote:
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- 12 On Oct 19, 2009 01:46:38 PM Shakti wrote:
India's Space program is in good pace and it is better than Chaina at least for it's stand on words. I believe that
- 11 On Oct 18, 2009 04:28:11 AM Stephen Conner wrote:
It is very important for Nasa to consolidate and strengthen or initiate relationship with European block.I hope you initiate a new partnership with the AEXA (Mexican Space Agency).
Stephen Conner
Thailand- 10 On Oct 05, 2009 09:18:29 AM jonathan wrote:
China is emerging as a big powerful country inevitble by the power display during their independence day celebration last week
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Replacement battery- 9 On Sep 26, 2009 09:50:03 AM james wrote:
Yes, expeditions to Space should be an international effort, not just a measure of power for each country.
auto insurance quotes- 8 On Sep 11, 2009 10:44:23 PM Erwan Jr Michael wrote:
It is very important for Nasa to consolidate and strengthen or initiate relationship with European block. Space quest is a matter of power, realistically, but, this power must be combine with the long term vision. I dare to say that China will not be as opened as the Western countries are. I do love Beijing by the way.
- 7 On Aug 10, 2009 12:51:17 AM Brenda Pulido wrote:
Yes. For more info on the Mexican Space Agency project AEXA, please visit: www.aexa.tv
Thanks.
Brenda Pulido.
Monterrey, Mexico.- 6 On Jul 01, 2009 03:13:18 AM Agnes wrote:
Look, I can see why US superiority in space exploration and the likely eventual space population is something to be very proud of but the discoveries made and advancements made are for all mankind to enjoy so yes, partnerships should be made with other space agencies if it is going to speed up the progress made.
Agnes- 5 On May 30, 2009 12:40:16 AM Gualterio Nunez Estrada wrote:
I considered, first, the goal of space scientific research is for safety of the whole planet, the first task is to monitoring the habitat and how we came a planet in the universe. Since that point of view the idea to have "space city" in Cuba and Mexico will increase the rol of the partners of Russia and China involved in the Moscu-Havana signed protocole with Roscosmos, recently.It is not the first time cuban and russian have a space joint effort based on informatic developing in cuban universities labs(Computer) since 1977. Gualterio Nunez Estrada, former scientific tematic writer, Scientific Research Dpt., Universidad de Oriente, Santiago de Cuba-Unesco Caribbean-"Kalinine Tecnical Institute", Leningrad, 1975- to 1980.Living, actually, in Sarasota, Florida, 34233.
- 4 On Apr 27, 2009 01:12:53 PM Eduardo C. Guizar Sainz wrote:
I hope you initiate a new partnership with the AEXA (Mexican Space Agency). We (mexicans) have a lot of people with a lot of potential in differents areas like robotics, nanotechnology, electronic communications, geology, medicine, etc.
eduardoguizar@gmail.com- 3 On Apr 21, 2009 05:49:13 PM Mike wrote:
Yes, expeditions to Space should be an international effort, not just a measure of power for each country.
Yours,
Project
Payday- 2 On Mar 09, 2009 05:48:37 PM Chris Sharp wrote:
Steven,
I worked for Loral/Lockheed at JSC in the late Nineties on the ISS program. I think we may have met once or twice during that period. While on the HSR project for the ISS I worked closely with members of the Russian Space Agency. I strongly believe that large multi-national projects like the ISS program play a vital role in relationship building between countries. Space exploration and exploitation has such a large scope and potential that it seems to me to be an ideal area for building the type of relationships and alliances that help establish stable long term relations between countries.- 1 On Feb 23, 2009 04:14:18 AM stephen wrote:
I think it is a good idea for Nasa to incorporate the resoures of other counties (both human and material) but it shouldnt limit itself to partnering with countries with existing space programs.
Many countries, even small ones like my own New Zealand have resources that could aid Nasa even if it is only our geographical location. After all, it is all humans that will benefit.
Our course the hard part will be to retain the focus of any Nasa partnerships on delivering the science.
Unfortunately I see it is more probable that other countries will only contribute a token $$$$ amount and the venture will turn into a forum for national self promotion by the minor players. - 28 On Nov 10, 2009 10:31:32 PM Kyle wrote:
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