I have noted on a number of conservative blogs various laments regarding the transfer of space technology to the Chinese that occurred during the 90's under the Clinton administration. The theme generally runs along these lines "Clinton enabled the Chinese to purchase the technology from US companies that will allow their nuclear weapons to rain death on American citizens".   This sounds really bad, until you realize that the Chinese could have gotten the exact same technology from the Russians, French, Germans and/or the Israelis (at a lower price too).  Or, the Chinese might have just decided to try figuring it on their own. After all, the physics involved where pretty basic.  According to an article I read in Aviation Week, what our companies really gave the Chinese wasn't technology, it was a lesson on the discipline needed to managed a space program.   See the Chinese real problem wasn't technology, it was quality control.  Maybe it was stupid...(Read Full Post)