After successfully deploying a satellite around the Moon, it looks as if the worlds largest democracy is preparing to place one of its own citizens upon Earth’s nearest neighbor.

(Moon Daily) “Sending man to moon is a very complicated mission. So, as a first step, we plan to develop an Indian spacecraft that will take astronauts across the earth and bring them back,” ISRO Chairman G Madhavan Nair said delivering a lecture on ‘India’s Recent Space Achievements’ here on Sunday. [...]

ISRO was also in the process of developing technologies for a manned moon mission and it would take more than six to seven years to develop those technologies, he said adding our effort is to achieve the milestone by the time the proposed next manned moon mission of USA and China materialise in 2020″.

Even though India has yet to put a man into space (note: they are planning to send their first citizen around 2015), their belated entrance could help motivate Asia as a whole, especially if they team up with the Japanese.

Currently China is the leading space power in the region, as they have already conducted a space walk, with future plans on landing a lunar rover to explore the Moon’s surface.

Only time will tell whether or not India realizes its dream among the stars–but if the nation of a billion people is successful, we may see future astronauts speaking an additional 20 plus languages (instead of just English and Chinese).

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After seeing their Asian rival conduct a space walk, it looks as if the worlds largest democracy is laying down the necessary foundation for sending Indian astronauts beyond the sky by 2015.

(Times of India) India plans to a have a new launch pad to undertake its proposed human space flight (manned mission) programme, ISRO officials said.

A project report on the human space flight is ready and is awaiting final approval from the government, Director of Satish Dawan Space Centre (SDSC) SHAR, M P Dathan said.

Despite being far behind both China and Japan, India is determined to establish their presence beyond the heavens, and is even willing to court the private sector in its attempts at catching up.

Hopefully India will consider extending its ambitions lunar side, as launching men and women into space may not guarantee ones status as a space power.

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Right after successfully completing a spacewalk, it looks as if the Asian giant is now offering “lessons” to interested countries seeking to train their own citizens to be astronauts.

(International Herald Tribune) Having launched consecutive successful manned space missions, China now hopes train astronauts for other nations, the head of the Chinese astronaut training program was quoted as saying on Thursday. [...]

“It was one of the center’s goals to train international astronauts in future,” Chen said.

Although China has largely gone it alone in developing its manned space program, Chen said international cooperation was an “inevitable trend in manned space flight” due to the expense and complex technology involved.

This is probably a wise move by China, who after conducting their anti-satellite test found itself with very few allies on planet Earth.

China has already cultivated deep relationships with many African nations (note: although how beneficial they are is subject to debate), and it would not be surprising to see them establish trade agreements enabling them to liftoff from launch friendly regions of the continent.

Either way this is yet another sign of China’s attempt to influence current (and future) space culture–an item that may not thrill US politicians.

Update (10/2): Inserted missing link.

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Despite the fact that the United States is the leading space power (at least in this solar system), it looks like they may now have some serious competition from China, who recently was able to complete their first space walk (a feat that very few nations have achieved).

(Video: China’s first space walk, Hat Tip: Spaceports)

Even though the Asian giant has a long ways to go (technology wise) in order to catch up with both Russia and the United States, China is already gazing further upward towards a terrestrial body once grazed by American footprints.

(Space.com) “We still do not have an exact timetable for a manned mission to the moon, but I believe a Chinese (astronaut) will set foot on the moon in the not too distant future,” an unnamed official told the Communist Party newspaper the People’s Daily after the mission landed.

Wang Zhaoyao, spokesman for the manned space program, told reporters Sunday that it is “necessary” for China to put a man on the moon, the Agence France-Presse news service reported.

“We believe that as long as we can make further progress in science and technology, we can achieve the dream of a manned space flight to the moon in the near future,” he said.

Despite the fact that China is in no position to currently challenge the United States for space supremacy, their future is looking a little brighter than their western friend, as the US is facing a financial crisis that could potentially derail NASA’s attempts at establishing a lunar base in the not so distant future.

To make matters even more interesting, a few analysts expect China’s economy to surpass the United States by 2035 (if not sooner), which will give them a financial advantage in not only creating outposts on the Moon, but harvesting the helium-3 within its soil.

America’s only hope for solar dominance may lie in NASA and NewSpace teaming up for the final frontier, which (thankfully) is a concept that is quickly becoming a reality (hat tip: Space Transport News).

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After declaring their support for Cuba’s space center, the former Soviet Union is now planning on helping China conduct its first space walk.

(RIA Novosti) Russian experts will have a role in overseeing the upcoming mission of Chinese astronauts, which will include China’s first spacewalk, a spokesman for country’s manned space program said Wednesday.

The Shenzhou-7 spacecraft with three astronauts on board is scheduled to launch Thursday from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in Gansu province, in the northwest of China. [...]

“We are also grateful to Russia for its active cooperation in the training of astronauts,” the spokesman said, adding that good opportunities were opening up for further partnership.

With Russia facing isolation from NASA over its conflict with Georgia, the former Soviet empire is probably attempting to strengthen its position as a space power, while at the same time ensuring that it has a dedicated partner to help take them beyond the sky.

China is probably warming up to the idea (as going alone can be rough), as an agreement between the two could help form a counterweight against America’s, who has been less than thrilled about partnering with the Asian giant ever since the Anti-Satellite Test (aka ASAT).

Either way, this alliance could help spark a future space cold war, which may ultimately motivate our species to expand off world (note: provided we do not destroy this one of course).

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After seeking out future candidates interested in becoming Europe’s next generation of astronauts, the European Space Agency has been swarmed with applications–a health sign that Europe’s quest for the stars is not only alive and well, but it is just warming up.

(Space Travel) At the close of the application phase which lasted a month, 8413 aspiring astronauts provided a medical certificate and finalised the online application form. This qualifies them for the next step in the selection process. [...]

“We now have a large number of highly qualified applicants. I am confident that we will find the outstanding individuals we are looking for. This will be ensured by the next selection steps, starting with a first round of psychological testing,” said Michel Tognini, Head of the European Astronaut Centre. 

Most of the applications were from France and Germany, although to the article the vast majority of them were from men (note: where are all of the ladies?). This is a good sign for Europe, as having their own space program will help keep NASA and China competitive (and perhaps help ease tensions between the two as well).

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