When China's satellite was launched, South Korean netizens were furious. This debate about "who approved your launch" may seem absurd, but it unexpectedly exposed a more realistic problem: on the Asian aerospace track, China has firmly taken the lead, and South Korea is still warming up and stretching.
Someone on the Internet asked if China had obtained South Korea's consent before launching a satellite, which sounds like a paragraph, but really appeared in the discussions area of the US forum, not to be scared.
Does China need South Korea's "approval"? What kind of aerospace strength gap is reflected behind this?
China launches satellite, why not ask South Korea?
The space treaty, signed in 1967, clearly states that space is the common domain of all mankind, and peaceful use is the basic principle.
In other words, as long as nuclear weapons are not deployed in space and do not interfere in the legitimate activities of other countries, anyone can launch satellites without the approval of others.
China's launch of Q8 followed international rules, not the feelings of Korean netizens.
But the funny thing is that this kind of question "Why didn't you ask me?" actually exposes two things: first, the understanding of the international aerospace order still stays at the level of "neighbors borrowing ladders"; second, the development speed and scale of China's aerospace industry obviously have not slowed down.
For the South Korean people, the Chinese spacecraft one by one, the satellite one by one, and the space station is still on duty every day, this rhythm does not breathe.
From the east to the flying sky of Shenzhou
China's aerospace industry has been developed step by step. It was not until 1970 that the "Dongfanghong-1" was sent to the sky. It was not an early start, but the pace never stopped.
In 2003, Shenzhou V sent Yang Liwei into space, becoming the third country in the world to complete manned space flight. After that, there are big moves almost every year.
In 2020, the global network of Beidou navigation systems will be completed; in 2024, Chang'e 6 will bring back 1935 grams of moon ground from the back of the moon, refreshing the world record.
In 2024 alone, China has completed 68 launches, ranking second in the world in the number of satellites.
These satellites are not for good sight, meteorology, mapping, communications, disaster relief, and they all work in the sky.
Now the Chinese space station has been operating steadily and steadily for more than two years, and astronauts are on turn to use space as "laboratories" and "offices".
Most importantly, this whole system, all made by China itself. from rockets, engines to measurement control systems, there is almost no link to look at the face of others.
South Korea's aerospace industry has a big dream, but the reality is a bit skinny
On the other hand, South Korea's aerospace dream is not small, and it can even be said to be quite ambitious. In 2022, the "World" rocket finally accurately sent a satellite into orbit, becoming the seventh country in the world to launch a one-ton satellite on a self-developed rocket. It's something to be proud of, but it did take 12 years to get it done.
In 2024, South Korea established its own national space agency KASA, and President Yoon Seok-yue called out the big goal of "landing on the moon in 2032 and planting a flag on Mars in 2045."
It sounds like a fire, but the reality is that currently South Korea’s manned space technology is still in the “no” stage.
Compared to the moon and Mars targets, and its current technical reserves, like just learning to ride a bike, prepare to challenge the Mount Everest.
Moreover, many projects in South Korea have to rely on the help of others. The "Moon Appreciation" lunar probe launched in 2022 is on a rocket from the United States SpaceX.
Lee So-yeon, the only Korean astronaut who has ever been in space, also flew out on the Russian Soyuz.
This indicates that South Korea does not yet have the ability to complete a complete space mission independently.
Technology is not on paper, the industrial foundation is the real skill.
In the final analysis, the space gap between China and South Korea is not just a matter of the number of launches, but the difference in the capabilities of the entire system.
From engine materials to rocket development to space station construction, China has formed a closed-loop industrial chain. All key parts and components are basically localized, and there is no fear of technological blockade by other countries.
Although South Korea also has Samsung and LG such tech giants, their involvement in the space field is still relatively limited.
South Korea's overall aerospace industry chain is relatively short, key technologies have not yet been developed, launch capabilities have just begun, and networking capabilities and application capabilities are still in the exploratory stage. If the industry is not stable, it will be difficult for dreams to become reality.
China is not only doing a lot, but it is also stable. From artificial satellites to the space station, from Chang'e to the moon to the sky to ask for Mars, there is almost no deviation every step.
Now even commercial aerospace has been rolled out, and satellite constellations are grouped into the sky, as fast as building a highway.
And the pace of South Korea, a bit of a quick success. the goal is high, the resources are not yet supported, the technology is still supplementary, and it is easy to get into "airborne cabin."
Especially in terms of military overtones, South Korea takes frequent actions. Space military forces have been deployed as early as the last century, and in recent years, they have also conducted joint exercises with the U.S. Space Force.
This direction and China’s emphasis on the path of peaceful exploitation and scientific and technological cooperation are obviously not a channel.
Strength is the passport to space
The pace of China's aerospace industry is steady and steady, without shouting slogans. The 731-day space station is constantly stationed, with more than 4000 invention patents, hundreds of scientific experiments, and practical results.
Look at South Korea again. Although it is ambitious, it has not yet completed manned spaceflight, let alone lunar sampling and Mars exploration.
Some say that this gap is only a matter of time. But the reality is that it has taken China decades to complete the road of others for half a century, while South Korea is still verifying the stability of rockets.
The question on the forum, "How could China dare not ask South Korea to launch a satellite?" has actually explained the problem: when a country's space development is so fast that people misunderstand "violation", it shows that it has gone ahead.
And this kind of "walking ahead" is not won by argument, but by firing rockets one after another.
Only technology and strength speak for themselves in space
Space is not the back garden of anyone, nor is it a place in parliament to vote by hand. China launches a satellite and doesn’t need South Korea’s approval, it’s an international consensus, not an emotional issue.
If South Korea really wants to catch up on this track, it cannot rely on quarrels, but on time, investment and technical accumulation.
It’s like playing basketball, and you can’t say to your opponent, “Why don’t you say hello first?” if you don’t want to always look, you have to practice jumping and kicking yourself.
In the final analysis, the launch of China's satellites is a reflection of the country's scientific and technological level, not someone's "provocation." South Korea does not need a "approval power" and China does not need a "notification obligation." The decision is always in the hands of strength who can leave more footprints in the vast space.
Write at the end
China’s rocket will not change its orbit because of a post on the internet, nor will South Korea’s space dream disappear because of a question.This argument about “who can launch” is actually more like an idea of a crash car in the context of a space race.
On the international stage, everyone wants to go to heaven, but really can stand steadily in space, the country, which relies not on emotions, is strength.