Wouldn't it be somewhat difficult to spy on things clearly when you're 35,000km up, especially when compared with low orbital satellites at maybe 30x closer?
China's Space Program News Thread
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Wouldn't it be somewhat difficult to spy on things clearly when you're 35,000km up, especially when compared with low orbital satellites at maybe 30x closer?
Hendrik_2000
Lieutenant General
China did experiment with optical satellite for geonsynchronous satellite Not sure what is the progress sofar. It could be elecronic signal eave dropping
SinoSoldier
Colonel
Late night drunken musings:
1. Why doesn't the CNSA buy or obtain the blueprints (or whatever's left) of the Buran shuttle and RD-170/Energia? It would greatly jumpstart China's ambitions to build a reusable launch system without having to wait another decade for indigenous developments.
2. A Sino-Buran could be fitted with two 4+ meter diameter solid engines that are to be tested in CNY 2018, or a Sino-RD170 if the Chinese are able to get their hands on them. A joint Sino-Rus funded "Buran 2.0" may also be an option, with the latter able to provide engine technology and shuttle blueprints while the former can offer funding and solid boosters.
1. Why doesn't the CNSA buy or obtain the blueprints (or whatever's left) of the Buran shuttle and RD-170/Energia? It would greatly jumpstart China's ambitions to build a reusable launch system without having to wait another decade for indigenous developments.
2. A Sino-Buran could be fitted with two 4+ meter diameter solid engines that are to be tested in CNY 2018, or a Sino-RD170 if the Chinese are able to get their hands on them. A joint Sino-Rus funded "Buran 2.0" may also be an option, with the latter able to provide engine technology and shuttle blueprints while the former can offer funding and solid boosters.
Not saying you're wrong, but your guess becomes even more unlikely because electronic signals follow a cubic decay (in very simplistic terms). Instead of some 30x for optical spy satellites you now need something like a 27000x sensitivity...
D
Deleted member 13312
Guest
Same reasons as to why the Russian did not offer the best in their technology regarding things like the Yasen and the S-500. Every single piece of tech you sell to another guy is another potential tech that they can reverse engineer and cut you out of the profit margins. The RD-170 engine can just as easily be adapted to Chinese ballistic missile tech while Chinese produced rocket engines will seriously cut into Russia's profit if they can offer it to the US despite current misgivings between the 2 countries. The Russians are pretty much broke at the time but they aren't that broke.
SinoSoldier
Colonel
I may have overlooked that tiny aspect with regards to the RD-170. You are indeed correct on many points here. However, this doesn't really apply to the Buran, does it? Now that the Russians have barely any funds to make the thing operational once more, why not squeeze the last bit of cash out of it and sell the plans to the Chinese (or set up a joint venture)?
D
Deleted member 13312
Guest
Well, potentially one reason why the Buran was not offered to the Chinese is that the only existing prototype (at least the one that was launched into space it seems) was destroyed in an accident (lol). Other than that we can only chalk it down as potential bureaucratic pencil pushers make shadowy decisions.
Hendrik_2000
Lieutenant General
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