Poll: Many Want Space Cooperation with The People's Republic of China

"Should the People's Republic of China be included in international human space access efforts?"

The Chinese are poised to launch a mini-space station and another manned spacecraft in late 2010 and 2011 following the now planned retirement of the American space shuttle fleet. That leaves many within space policy circles questioning whether or not the time in right to pursue a more active and transparent cooperation between the United States human spaceflight community and China's human spaceflight program in the coming years.

Fifty percent (50%) of the respondents said "yes" that the People's Republic of China should be included in international human space access efforts while twenty-one percent (21%) said "no" and that the Asia nation is unworthy of cooperation in international space endeavors. Twenty-eight percent (28%) said "maybe" to cooperation but were uncertain as to the level of cooperation because of possible space technology transfer issues.

Bottom line: Over three-quarters of what should be deemed as the "informed" poll respondents believe some measure of human space flight cooperation with the People's Republic of China should be American national (or international partner) space policy. The question really comes down now to what degree and exactly how to proceed.

This Blogger will have much more to say on this topic in the days and weeks ahead - UPDATE HERE.