Chinese Astronaut Makes It Back Safely

brindafella writes "SpaceDaily is reporting that China's historic first manned space mission has ended with the safe return of its first astronaut Lieutenant Colonel Yang Liwei, 38, who landed just before 6.30am Beijing time (2230 UTC 15/10) at the designated recovery zone north east of Beijing. The capsule has been recovered and opened and the pilot is very much alive, 'and doing autographs.' Furthermore, 'Premier Wen Jiabao was seen on television talking to Yang on the phone and smiling widely and clapping after he hung up.'"

Comments

Whens the next mission

[The Famous Druid]

Thats the problem with Chinese space missions, as soon as one has landed, you want another.

Congratulations to China!

[mOoZik]

Congrats, China! You managed to put a man into orbit (and return safely to the Earth) without the benfit of stolen German technology! Space exploration is no longer limited to Russia and the U.S. - show them what you're made of!

Go Forth And Conquer!

why am i so excited? :D

Re:Congratulations to China!

[Yakman]

Congrats, China! You managed to put a man into orbit (and return safely to the Earth) without the benfit of stolen German technology!

Yay! Instead it was done with upgraded Russian technology!

On a related note, my favourite story about Chinese space exploration is this:

About 650 years ago, an inventive Chinese mandarin named Wan Hu tied 47 large rockets filled with gunpowder to his chair and, firmly clutching a kite in each hand, ordered his servants to light the touchpapers.

He vanished in a cloud of sparks and blue smoke, according to legend, with many of his Ming dynasty contemporaries believing he was somewhere in the heavens.

Re:Congratulations to China!

[kfg]

Their next project is going to be a "space elevator," constructed by standing on each other's shoulders.

That should get 'em to Mars before us.

KFG

Re:Congratulations to China!

[Col. Klink (retired)]

In German and English
I know how to count down
And I'm learning Chinese
Says Werner von Braun

-- Tom Leher

Re: Congratulations to China!

[Moofie]

I think that in order for something to be a penis-symbol, there should be an alternative way to design it so that it's NOT a penis symbol.

There's no light without dark, right? Therefore, penis symbology only makes sense if, among several otherwise-equivalent designs, you choose the one that looks like a dick.

Please design a viable rocket-powered vessel that looks like a vagina.

Lesser of Two evils...

[OtakuHawk]

I for one would rather have china than Bill. The former's food is better, for starters.

Space.com Article

[pHatidic]

According to the article on space.com, the mission cost 1 billion. To quote, "Yang hurtled around the planet for the rest of Wednesday, making a planned orbit shift in midafternoon and stopping work only to rest and eat Chinese food designed especially for space travel." I for one think 1 billion dollars is well worth it for space chinese food. Along with space icecream, we can now have a complete and balanced space diet. I look forward to the day when the guy on the phone of the local chinese restraunt asks if i want my dumplings to be steamed, panfried, or 'space'.

Re:Not to be arrogant

[Anonymous Coward]

That's not an arrogant comment, it's a retarded comment. (no pun.. or was it a pun? i cant decide)

Re:Congrats to China

[geekoid]

While I normally don't support ancient Egytians in just about any way (due to their human rights stances),congrats on the pyrmids!

sheesh.

Re:I wonder

[Stonent1]

so who do you think is going to be the first to jump at declaring it a hoax?

I vote for the Iraqi Information Minister...

Re:funny coincidence

[Anonymous Coward]

I, for one, welcome our new Chinese Space Emperor overlords

Re:Meanwhile...

[CGP314]

I hope China goes to the moon or beyond.

But not Europa. Attempt no landings there.