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China launches third unmanned space vehicle
AFP ^ | 25 Mar 02 | Staff

Posted on 03/25/2002 8:11:24 AM PST by RightWhale

China launches third unmanned space vehicle

BEIJING (AFP) Mar 25, 2002

China has successfully launched its third unmanned space vehicle, the country's official newsagency reported late Monday.

According to Xinhua reports, the "Shenzhou III" blasted off Monday night at 2200 local time (1400 GMT) from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China's Gansu Province.

Scientists at the Beijing Aerospace Directing and Controlling Center told Xinhua the launch went ahead according to plan and that the vehicle had arrived at a preset orbit.

Chinese President Jiang Zemin observed the aunch of the Long March II F rocket which reportedly entered into orbit about ten minutes after blast-off.

The first experimental "Shenzhou" spacecraft was launched from the same centre on November 20, 1999, and returned to earth in Mongolia the next day.

On January 10, 2001, China launched a second unmanned spaceship -- the "Shenzhou II" -- which was basically identical to a manned craft.

Xinhua said Chinese scientists had designed life sciences, materials, astronomy and physics experiments which will be performed during the craft's journey, but did not mention when re-entry was expected.


TOPICS: Breaking News; Foreign Affairs
KEYWORDS: nonnasa; shenzhou; taikonaut
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Go Taikonauts! or Yuhangyuan if you prefer.
1 posted on 03/25/2002 8:11:24 AM PST by RightWhale
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To: RightWhale
If all goes well, do you think that their next launch will be manned? Or will they do a few more of these unmanned flights first?
2 posted on 03/25/2002 8:35:24 AM PST by Jay W
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To: RightWhale
Don't suppose they might be putting a few nukes into orbit do you?
3 posted on 03/25/2002 8:37:58 AM PST by Rebelbase
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To: Jay W
will they do a few more of these unmanned flights first?

They can afford to take their time and do it right. The program is open-ended and they are under no pressure, certainly not from the West. Of course they wish to establish a manned presence in space as soon as reasonably possible, so they will press on. No doubt their funding will be increased as a result of their continued success.

4 posted on 03/25/2002 8:48:22 AM PST by RightWhale
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To: Rebelbase
they might be putting a few nukes into orbit

No, that would be a tactical error.

5 posted on 03/25/2002 8:49:53 AM PST by RightWhale
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To: RightWhale
Thank you Mr. Bill Crintoon; Mr. Bernie Schrartw, Mr. Bill Richardson
6 posted on 03/25/2002 10:20:25 AM PST by aShepard
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To: Rebelbase
Yes that would be China's goal. To low tech our hi-tech into oblivion.
7 posted on 03/25/2002 10:55:31 AM PST by kinghorse
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To: aShepard
Thank you Mr. Bill Crintoon; Mr. Bernie Schrartw, Mr. Bill Richardson

That might be.

We could also blame NASA for not doing enough, but that would be misplaced blame. It is Congress that lacks vision and can't see what to do until the wolf is at the door. Some blame goes to the White House, since they can propose and suggest, but Congress gets most of it.

The Apollo moon landing program came from Congress, not from the White House --in spite of the Big Speech.

In any case we should not look back on how this came about, but look at the situation and rectify the situation. Water under the bridge or something like that. The sooner Congress gets the space program in gear, the sooner America can meet this challenge from China and the better America will be able to hold its own.

And I mean hold its own, because China will get a piece of the pie no matter what, and to let them pick off the easy to reach plums that could have been America's would be a betrayal of trust in Congress. As if . . .

8 posted on 03/25/2002 11:15:50 AM PST by RightWhale
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To: LarryLied; Black Jade; goldilucky; backhoe; Enemy Of The State; Mia T; Elle Bee
Thanks to Bernard Schwartz and bastard Bill Clinton..and his whore Hillary...I'm sure this launch will be - - -a COMPLETE SUCCESS....HUH everyone!
9 posted on 03/25/2002 11:19:51 AM PST by ChaseR
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To: RightWhale
>>No doubt their funding will be increased as a result of their continued success.

There are people inside China opposing the manned space project. THey think the defense budget should be the first priority. BTW what did the US gain from the Moon landing?

10 posted on 03/25/2002 11:21:34 AM PST by Lake
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To: RightWhale
>>because China will get a piece of the pie no matter what, and to let them pick off the easy to reach plums that could have been America's would be a betrayal of trust in Congress.

I would like a piece of land on the earth instead of on the moon.

11 posted on 03/25/2002 11:25:18 AM PST by Lake
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To: Lake
"BTW what did the US gain from the Moon landing?"

ROCKS :0)

12 posted on 03/25/2002 12:03:35 PM PST by cibco
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To: ChaseR
The ChiComs have made great strides. During Clinton's first term in office, 25% of their Long March missiles were blowing up on the launch pad. They had nothing which could reach the USA.
13 posted on 03/25/2002 12:12:22 PM PST by LarryLied
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To: Lake; RightWhale
>There are people inside China opposing the manned space project. THey think the defense budget should be the first priority.

[laughs] There are benefits to living in a non-democracy! Once the people in charge figure out what they think is the right thing to do, they can Just Do It.

What did we get from our space program? How about the ability to tell which brand of watch is on bin Laden's wrist from orbit? The military "payback" is obvious. And, once someone establishes a serious presence in orbit, say at L5, the real economic returns may become, so to speak, astronomical -- don't forget, it costs almost nothing to ship goods down to Earth... (If resources could be gathered, say, from the Moon or from passing asteroids, rather than shipped up from Earthside...)

Mark W.

14 posted on 03/25/2002 1:53:22 PM PST by MarkWar
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To: RightWhale

15 posted on 03/25/2002 2:18:58 PM PST by vannrox
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To: vannrox
Sure, it's just cardboard and glue right now. While they are tooling up for the real deal, they need something for their road shows to schools and shopping malls. It is happening.
16 posted on 03/25/2002 2:23:35 PM PST by RightWhale
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To: Rebelbase
"Don't suppose they might be putting a few nukes into orbit do you?" That wouldn't be very nice.
17 posted on 03/25/2002 2:28:52 PM PST by TBall
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To: MarkWar
>>it costs almost nothing to ship goods down to Earth...

What goods are you expecting?

18 posted on 03/25/2002 4:22:55 PM PST by Lake
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To: RightWhale
China aims to stage a manned flight by the end of this decade, joining the United States and the former Soviet Union as the only countries to have launched a person into outer space.

Remember that our money goes to their nuclear program when you go to Walmart.

I unloaded some Huffy bikes today that used to say "Made in America",they now say,"Made in China"

19 posted on 03/25/2002 5:36:36 PM PST by mdittmar
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To: ChaseR
Unfortunately that is the case. Peraonally, I'd like to see both of them tried for war crimes!
20 posted on 03/25/2002 7:54:53 PM PST by goldilucky
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