ЦитироватьRussia has the know-how to compete militarily in Space, but lacks the financial resources.
In 2003 its expenses forecast for space programs was only $300 million, compared to the $3 billion allocated by China and $23 billion invested by the U.S. into NASA and the myriad space-related programs, including missile defence.
The rise of China as a space power[/size]
Among the potential competitors, China appears to be most able to mount a challenge to American primacy. Its space program is strongly supported by Chinese leaders who wish to assert and maintain Chinese regional power, as well as attempting to dispute the current unipolar world order. With the technical assistance of Russia and other ex-USSR countries, the new nation is making such significant progress that it is now the focus of US worries.
According to the Pentagon, China publicly opposes militarization of Space and tries to prevent or slow down the development by the U.S. of anti-satellite weapons (ASAT) and missile defense by diplomatic means. In private, however, it is considering that the development of such weaponry may in fact be inevitable if they wish to maintain any pretence to multipolarity in the future, even going to the length of searching abroad for technical knowledge.
Beijing has begun the development of a new family of modular rockets that can send heavy loads into space, with the aim of being able to put 25 tons into low earth orbit and 14 tons into geostationary orbit by 2007. Beijing has also begun to develop a smaller launch vehicle with a solid propellent, the Kaituozhe (Pioneer, KT or KTZ-1). The KT-1 is the first step towards the development of a series of small rockets that will be needed to launch a new generation of small satellites that are currently undergoing development. China is investing massively in the development of this type of mini-satellite, which could eventually be used offensively against other satellites.
China is making substantial progress in manned space missions, with the first mission successfully completed on October 17, 2003, and has long-term plans for its own space station and probably a reusable space shuttle. Although the strongest factor behind the Chinese space program is political prestige, the efforts of this Far East power to send men into Space will also contribute, indirectly, to the development of the expertise required for future military applications between 2010 and 2020. It is known to US Intelligence Services that China is dedicating considerable resources into lasers for military use, and that by "...using a combination of indigenous capabilities and foreign assistance, China could emerge as a leading producer and exporter of military lasers by 2020", according to the US Department of Defense .
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http://globalpolitician.com/articles.asp?ID=225