[Cincinatus' Wife]

Shenzhou Secrets: China Prepares for First Human Spaceflight

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[Fitzcarraldo]

China's first manned space flight would carry one "taikonaut" - or as many three. It could last from hours to several days.

Plenty of wiggle room here. It will be announced successful if at least one "taikonaut" survives one orbit.

[theDentist]

I expect at the conclusion they will follow the Soviet line and say they landed only 10 meters from their planned spot.

[<1/1,000,000th%]

Is it the LA Slimes or the Chinese who can't cope with a schedule?

[ditto h]

Someone should tell China that there is no grass on the moon.

[Prodigal Son]

But China would still be only the third country capable of manned space flight, vaulting it ahead of Japan and European countries, which have only unmanned programs.

Oh, I'd reckon the Japanese are quite capable of it.

And China would be accomplishing something that even the United States, with its space shuttle fleet grounded following the Columbia disaster, can't do right now.

I'm sure the LA Times just gets giddy every time they think about the Chinese beating us at something.

[armyboy]

In the future," the China News Service quoted Wang Shuquan as saying, "China will conduct tests on lunar-landing flight."

And only about 4 decades after we did it, why are they bothering?

[armyboy]

In the future," the China News Service quoted Wang Shuquan as saying, "China will conduct tests on lunar-landing flight."

And only about 4 decades after we did it, why are they bothering?

[armyboy]

In the future," the China News Service quoted Wang Shuquan as saying, "China will conduct tests on lunar-landing flight."

And only about 4 decades after we did it, why are they bothering?

[armyboy]

In the future," the China News Service quoted Wang Shuquan as saying, "China will conduct tests on lunar-landing flight."

And only about 4 decades after we did it, why are they bothering?

[Prodigal Son]

Facing repairs, NASA targets next fall for shuttle launch

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - NASA is targeting next fall for its next space shuttle launch, saying there are too many post-Columbia repairs to fly any sooner.

Senior space agency officials decided Friday to aim for a launch in September 2004 for Atlantis. That date could slip even into 2005, depending on the progress of the shuttle repair work.

NASA had been using next March as a planning date for the first shuttle flight following the Columbia disaster.

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Looks like it's going to be a while before we're in space again.

[Junior]

I think this is rather exciting. Nothing is more likely to get NASA to wake up and smell the coffee than a little competition. I hope the Chinese put men on the Moon in the next couple of years for the same reason.

[Prodigal Son]

At least China is decades behind us on this:

Not Science Fiction: An Elevator to Space

[Orion78]

PING!

[sandydipper]

Thanks to Bill Clintoon.