The REAL obstacle to SPSS

>
> Saudi Arabia is not really a factor here, since they lack any orbital
> capability. Obviously, China is a major factor, but as the largest
> prospective consumer of energy on the planet they have every reason to be
> supportive. It seems to me that they ought to be brought into any planned
> solar power satellite planning, allowed to help pay for it, and expected to
> share the benefits.

Let me put myself in the role of a Chinese technology minister
negotiating this deal. Here's what I'd require:

1> I'd want access to all of the technology (schematics, programs,
etc) being used in the project, so that I could make sure that
backdoors were not being installed that would allow a hostile power
(US or Russia) to take command of the satellite to use it against me.
2> I'd want the manufacturing to be done under similar conditions, for
the same reason.

Otherwise, there's no way I can green-light the project. Anything
else, and I'm going to start making noise in the UN and elsewhere
about the militarization and balkanization of space.

Would someone else like to play the role of the US SecDef, or Russian
counterpart?