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China To Launch Second Manned Mission

Posted by Zonk on from the weee-look-at-the-view! dept.

the_central_kingdom wrote to mention a Xinhuanet article discussing a second upcoming Chinese spacecraft launch in October. From the article: "Although Sun did not provide details about the new mission, space officials earlier said China has been preparing for the second manned venture into outer space since the first mission, piloted by Yang Liwei, almost two years ago. Sun Laiyan, chief of the China National Space Administration, earlier told China Daily that Shenzhou VI will carry two men into orbit for five or six days. "

9 of 155 comments (clear)

  1. Hey! by PopeAlien · · Score: 4, Funny

    I can see my wall from up here!

    --
    air and light and time and space
  2. Technology Transfer by putko · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Don't know how good this source is, but:

    Here is something from Global Security about the origin of the tech.

    Supposedly the tech is not just a copy of Russian stuff, and the Chinese are talking about what they are doing because they want to make money off of space services. You have to talk about it to sell it.

    --
    http://www.thebricktestament.com/the_law/when_to_s tone_your_children/dt21_18a.html
  3. Reminds me of early NASA by Vandil+X · · Score: 4, Insightful

    When you look at the history of NASA's space adventures, it's pretty clear that we sort of peaked with the the 1960s and early 1970s. Then they sort of went soft.

    China's missions remind me of NASA's early days, when John Glenn and others made simple manned orbits. Sure, there was some scientific value to them, but the primary reason was: look what our country can do.

    I not only hope China will continue to plan and conduct these manned missions -- but also I hope all of their missions are a tremendous success.

    This and only this will spur NASA out of safety/budget land and go back to the cock&balls manned flights of yester-century.

    Just my 2 cents.

    --
    Up, Up, Down, Down, Left, Right, Left, Right, B, A, START
  4. Re:Queue /. alarmists... by uberdave · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Of course it's all economics. If it were cheaper to send a manned module up to put a satellite in orbit, NASA would be doing it that way. However, it is far, far cheaper to send up just the satellite, rather than the satellite plus the astronauts plus their life support equipment and supplies, plus the re-entry vehicle. Oh, and let's not forget all the safety constraints that a manned launch requires that an unmanned one doesn't.

    --
    "I'm not impatient. I just hate waiting." - My Dad
  5. Correct link by Sensible+Clod · · Score: 5, Informative

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shenzhou

    Might want to double-check your link next time.

    --

    The difference between spam and poop is that you don't have to dig through septic tanks looking for real food. -- Me
  6. Re:One Question by mikejz84 · · Score: 4, Funny

    The rocket does not run on hydrogen, but on 100% clean burning political dissidents.

  7. It would be nice if China had some kind of realiza by Christ0ph · · Score: 5, Insightful

    It would be nice if China had some kind of realization when their astronauts are up in space, flying around the Earth, looking down on a fragile ball, without any borders visible on the 'map' - that we are all one people, one race, one world.. a very fragile and exceedingly precious world.. here in our tiny, five mile thick zone of comfort, balanced between a world that is very very cold (space) and one that is very very hot.. (magma)

    But instead, the Chinese that I have spoken to don't see this as some kind of triumph for mankind and instead, see it as 'catching up with America' - a continuation of what has become a national obsession.. Of course, they are catching up with America in 1963.. (which was catching up to the then-USSR a year earlier) but...

    Ultimately, I think its a good thing.. The space cooperation between the US and the USSR was clearly, in retrospect a BIG thing in improving the relations between our two countries.. It may have saved us from a nuclear war during those years..

    Now I'm praying that we don't end up in one in the 21st century.. Seems like both China and the US are currently ruled by the same kinds of idiots.. the kind that doesnt mind seeing millions of people die if its good for profits..

    But.. any scientist could tell them.. IT WONT BE..

    As Einstein said "We can't tell you what weapons World War III will be fought with, but we can tell you that World War IV, IF THERE IS ONE will be fought with sticks an arrows..

    If we live to see it.. if the human race survives..

    Just say NO..

  8. Re:It would be nice if China had some kind of real by blacklite001 · · Score: 5, Funny

    Of course, Einstein didn't use caps, and he spelled properly, and he didn't even say that bit in caps if you want to be really picky, but you know.

    "I know not with what weapons World War III will be fought, but World War IV will be fought with sticks and stones."

  9. Re:and current NASA by aussie_a · · Score: 4, Funny

    I'm devising a home-made method of getting into space. Now would you please hop into my cannon and I can shoot you into space, hazards be damned.