China Considers Communist Party Branch in Space

October 18, 2007 · Filed Under Science, Technology, World News

China might not have a permanent presence in space yet, but the country’s rocket men are already thinking about setting up a Communist Party branch in the outer reaches.

Now 14-strong, the Chinese astronaut corps more than meets the party’s minimum requirement of at least three members for a branch.

China’s space communists would “carry out the regular activities of a Communist Party of China branch in space in the way we do on Earth,” Yang Liwei, the first Chinese astronaut to fly into space, was quoted by Xinhua as saying on the sidelines of the national party congress.

“Like foreign astronauts having their beliefs, we believe in communism, which is also a spiritual power,” he said. “We may not pray in the way our foreign counterparts do. But the common belief has made us more united in space, where there is no national boundary, to accomplish our missions.”

The questions I have are, What exactly are these “activities” that a communist party would carry out in space?

Is it really necessary to inject a political ideology into the space program?

What type of activities might a communist carry out in space that a capitalist would not?

Since China is becoming more Capitalist by the year, why must they hang on to the dying ideology of Communism?

-Chris Jones