China launches first manned space flight

Reuters ^ | 10-14-03

[Brian S]

Wed 15 October, 2003 02:07 BST

BEIJING (Reuters) - China has launched its first manned space flight from the Gobi desert, Xinhua news agency says, in its bid to become the third country to put a man in orbit after the former Soviet Union and the United States.

The Shenzhou V, or "Divine Ship V", was expected to orbit the Earth 14 times before returning after about 21 hours.

Xinhua said the craft carried astronaut Yang Liwei, 38. The launch on Wednesday, 42 years after the Soviet Union put the first man into space, marked a milestone for China's secretive space programme, which analysts say has its sights set on a manned mission to the moon.

[Joe Hadenuf]

We have been great, now we are fat stupid and lazy. We have let millions and millions of outsiders in. They have corrupted our culture, our religion, our ability to speak and think freely. We have made our bed, now we have to sleep in it.

You bet. This country is becoming totally Balkanized. We can't even agree what language we are suppose to be using anymore. There are millions that want us to ride 30 mph electric go carts to work, and we seem to be more concerned with rebuilding countries 8000 miles away than improving our own country and looking towards our own future....It just goes on......

[Brett66]

I guess I posted too quickly, I seem to remember reading something a couple of years ago about the statistical risks involved with a shuttle launch. From initial launch to second stage separation was rated the highest risk with re-entry coming in second. Anyway, that was a couple of years ago before Columbia and was probably NASA wishful thinking anyway. :)

[Bernard Marx]

It didn't happen, and the average American doesn't care.

"I have met the enemy and he is us." Pogo.

[Tree of Liberty]

Where do you get that figure from?

[RightWhale]

Simply scaling up from his suborbital vehicle.

[Brett66]

It's on Kazaa and a 7.5 upgrade is there too. I've been meaning to download that, just haven't gotten around to it.

[Fee]

I think you have the PRC in the proper perspective. As long as you have a society that does not allow for the free flow of information for innovative people, and economical opportunity is reserved for the sons and daughters of Party members, and what is left over is divided amongst the rest of the people, such a society will not develop into a great power to even threaten us. The only thing the PRC have over us is their leaderships ability to focus and pursue strategic goals over a long period of time. They can catch us if we stop innovating and progressing.

[RightWhale]

There is the new free access online science journal. Revolutionary, and just right for former 3rd world countries.

[Bernard Marx]

They are out to make a quick buck, stash the golden parachute and retire after about 54 years of milking the stock prices. Let the other schmuck that takes over after they are gone worry about that.

The credo of the Harvard School of Business in one succinct paragraph! Does anyone wonder why we've got big problems?

[Tree of Liberty]

Ah, ok. If you're calculating the the same cost per mile, I think the figure is blown way out of proportion. The biggest hurdle is getting into orbit. Things get MUCH simpler, relatively, after that. I'm not an astrophysicist or engineer, but that's my understanding based on the writings of people who are.

[Brett66]

If using Kazaa makes you skittish, then try this guy:

Biglist Games

I suspect he's affiliated with the Russian mob, but he's d@mn cheap on software.

[Tree of Liberty]

There is the new free access online science journal

Reminds me of how Tom Clancy got all the technical info for The Hunt for Red October.

[Destro]

The Chinese are using Russian technology from 40 years ago. Clinton allowed tech transfers of another kind.

[Destro]

In reality we should all have been speaking Chinese now. China has always been the world power of record except for the last 300 years or so. Maybe this is the correct way of things?

Man what a scary alternate thought!

[znix]

I say GO CHINA! Congratulations!

Sure its a little spooky, but its also exciting. Another nation has made it to space. Awesome. Years ago I accepted that China was spacebound. Certainly we should consider it a serious threat to national security, but not without encouraging partnership and peaceful exploration. The Chinese deserve the honor...they have done it. Not as a government, but as a people. It is my hope that thier new discovey will lead us to peace and their people to freedom.

And I think a nuke test in early 2005 is an approriate response.

[Hunble]

No way, have you ever seen a typewriter that can print the Chinese language?

Western civilization will always be the leader, but they can copy rapidly.

[Willie Green]

They can catch us if we stop innovating and progressing.

Such as we're doing by offshoring our R&D to India and China along with our manufacturing infrastructure?

Presidential Technology Panel Warns of Impending Disaster

[GeronL]

LightWave 3D 7.0 + Upgrade 7.5

$5!!! plus $5 S/H!!!!!!!!!!!!

This website is crooked huh??

[Momaw Nadon]

China has launched its first manned space mission.

[Rockitz]

Unfortunately, the real value in this success for them is not in manned spaceflight, but in the technology they will be able to apply to their ICBMs aimed at US cities. The Cold War is back on in a big way.