California is currently moving to BAN helium filled balloons because once released they get tangled in power lines causing power distruptions. About 150 incidents have been reported. So it the kids have to go without balloons that get tangled powerlines, I guess they will just have to cry a little bit and get over it.

Or do you mean, like the $700 million contract that NASA recently gave to Russia, and its stated intention to give another contract to Russia for Soyuz crew transport/rescue services?

Or do you mean, like the joint partnership between Boeing and RSC Energia that is called “Sea Launch”, which uses the Zenit and the Block-D upperstage?

Or do you mean, like the former joint partnership between Lockheed and Krunichev called International Launch Services, for selling Proton launch services to the West?

Or do you mean, like the use of RD-180 engines in the Atlas V?

Or do you mean, like the use of the NK-33/34 engines in the Taurus II?

Or do you mean, like the partnership between Space Adventures and RSC Energia to sell commercial trips to the ISS?

– Al

Ahh, another kool-aid drinker has watched one too many popular-mechanics inspired television shows and believed it.

Do you mean work together like the USA and USSR did when they joined capsules? Or do you mean work together like the USA and the USSR did with the U.S. Shuttle and Mir programs? Or do you mean work together like the USA and Russia did with the International Space Station. How should the USA and Russia work together CLOSER then the russians and chinese?

You mean we aren’t sleeping already?

“China will be the one laughing when your children are crying because their balloons aren’t floating!”

Pure genius ^_^

Name them.

You might want to do some research before writing your paper.

“I would like to hazard a guess and say, that from a New Zealand perspective, I am more worried about what the USA will do in space than I am about what China will do in space.”

New Zealand’s a little concerned about what the United States might do? Aren’t the two countries allies or something?

If we listened to this wailing, we would go right to sleep! It sounds like we are light years ahead of the Chinese and they are way back there. They suggest they might go to the moon in TWENTY years? Assuming nothing changes in 20 years of course.

If you call that steam rolling over us…

Really, hopefully we will be smart enough to not be scared so easily. Aren’t we educated enough to see the world as it is and do what is right for our own goals – and not be so easily spooked?

It disappoints me that we could spend any time on such fluff as the CNN report – we should chuckle about their lack of knowledge and move on.

Helium-3 could be key to a resurgence in Derigibles and lighter-than-air transportation. He-3 is 25% lighter than standard Helium, and is non-flammable to boot. And I’ve also heard that the Chinese are thinking of cornering the market on this technology, so we better get cracking!