THE NEW SPACE RACE

China vs. the United States

Erik Seedhouse

A new space race is under way - but this time it is China rather than Russia that is challenging the might of the U.S. space program. The world’s most populous nation views space as an asset, not only from a technological and commercial perspective, but also from a political one. This fascinating book provides a timely and unique case study of the manned spaceflight aspirations of Washington and Beijing and gives a new insight into the many implications of the impending space race.

The New Space Race

describes China’s entry into the manned spaceflight arena and shows how its increased spaceflight activities are an attempt to rival U.S. dominance;
explains how manned spaceflight is considered crucial by the Communist Party in China for sustaining the legitimacy of the party;
discusses the political and strategic implications of China’s increased manned spaceflight activities in the context of a looming space race with the United States;
looks at whether the United States has the political will to advance its own space program in order to remain a space superpower

Table of Contents

Preface
Acknowledgements
About the author
List of figures
List of tables
List of abbreviations and acronyms

PART I High frontier politics
1. Rising Dragon
2. US and Chinese space policy

PART II Dark arena
3. Space warfare doctrine
4. Military space assets
5. Exploding China’s dream

PART III The second space race
6. Chinese and American space exploration programs
7. Current and future hardware
8. Manned spaceflight experience

PART IV Why cooperation won’t work and why a new space race is looming
9. The case for and against collaboration with China
10. The imminent space race

Appendices
A. Orbits
B. Outer Space Treaty
C. Space weapon technology and programs
Index

Extent: 288 pages, 16-page colour section
Binding: Paperback
Published: 2010
ISBN: 978-1-4419-0879-7

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