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.

[CHATTAB]

I hope I'm wrong, but I can see this date as marking the end of the American Era...and the beginning of the Chinese Era...

[nickcarraway]

It should properly read: China launched a piiece of it's property into space.

[Brian S]

MORE...


China Launches Manned Space Mission


The Associated Press
Tuesday, October 14, 2003; 9:09 PM


GOBI DESERT, China - China launched its first manned space mission on Wednesday, sending an astronaut hurtling toward orbit and becoming the third country in history to do so on its own - four decades after the Soviet Union and the United States.

The smoky tracer was visible against a bright, azure northwest China sky. The official Xinhua News Agency immediately confirmed the launch and said the astronaut was Yang Liwei, 38.

"China's first manned spacecraft, the Shenzhou 5, blasted off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in the northwestern province of Gansu at 9 a.m. Wednesday (9 p.m. EDT)," Xinhua said. State television cut into its programming to announce the launch.

It was the culmination of a decade of efforts by China's military-linked manned space program - and a patriotism-drenched moment for a communist government more concerned than ever about its profile on the world stage.

Security was tight around the remote Gobi Desert base, some 175 miles northeast of Jiuquan.

On Wednesday morning, the only road to the launch site was crowded with traffic, including military vehicles and civilian tour buses. But private cars were turned back and phone calls to the base were blocked.

China kept details of the event secret, saying in advance only that the launch would take place between Wednesday and Friday and that the astronaut would orbit the Earth 14 times. Yang was identified as a lieutenant colonel.

The Shenzhou 5 launch came after four test launches of unmanned capsules that orbited the Earth for nearly a week before parachuting back to China's northern grasslands. State media say the manned flight is expected to last about 20 hours

[zook]

I think it takes more than one space flight for that to happen. I've been to China and I enjoyed it very much. But China will never be a world power until it unleashes its people.

[RobFromGa]

I think you both are a couple of total Pessimists, socialism will NEVER defeat freedom.

[KevinDavis]

I hope there is a new space race that will happen.

Space Ping! This is the space ping list! Let me know if you want on or off this list!

[djf]

Chinese launch into space
The cubbies make it to the series...

This is like Nostradamus stuff.

[MJY1288]

LOL That's what people were saying 20 years ago about the Japanese. We could cripple China with a stroke of a pen. Ban all trade with them and they're done

[TheRedSoxWinThePennant]

The Great Stainmaker has sold us out and put the whole country in danger of annihilation. In another era, another time this treasonous thug would either be hanging from a rope or be given a bullet in his dummy skull.

that about sums it up. Just wait till hillary runs al-queda will have the stealth bomber.

[Excuse_My_Bellicosity]

Better late than never, eh China?!

[CHATTAB]

I'm no pessimist; just a realist.
Let's say that China opens up and becomes a democratic republic...
Let's say that China stays communist...
Either way they out-number us---they're a massive giant that has its eye on having a bigger role in the world!
I can only hope this launch will energize our space agency and the populace (especially our young people) to want a piece of the space action.
I know I'm dissapointed--- where are our Mars colonies?!!!

[djf]

The rocket made of rice and bamboo wasn't the problem...
it took years to collect enough panda-poop propellant.

[Scott from the Left Coast]

I was just thinking that...so it's official, China is 42 years behind us. They're doing better than the 75 years they were behind before Clinton became President.

[Moby Grape]

"The China Space Agency expressed it's thanks to former President Clinton for the missle guidance technology that made the flight (and hitting the US with nuclear weapons) possible".

Said the Director of the China Space Program; "Who would have thought it so easy. Such a small investment in the Clinton Campaign and we moved ahead by forty years."

[HoundsTooth_BP]

The real question is will Chinese socialism ever beat American socialism. Seeing how they have about 4x the population that we do and what with us fueling their economy of small nick-nacks, I can see it happening.