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Ned Potter is the science correspondent for ABC's "World News with Charles Gibson." He has reported on such topics as space exploration, the human genome and climate change.
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Red Stars: China Launches Three Astronauts
September 25, 2008 12:10 PM
The People's Republic of China has launched its third manned spacecraft, Shenzhou 7, with three astronauts, one of whom will perform China's first-ever space walk, and -- what, you hadn't noticed?
The crew is comprised of three Chinese fighter pilots, Zhai Zhigang, Jing Haipeng and Liu Boming, all age 42, introduced to reporters at a Wednesday news conferences.
"The Shenzhou 7 mission marks a historic breakthrough in China's manned space program," Zhai said. "It is a great honor for all three of us to fly the mission, and we are fully prepared for the challenge."
"Taikonauts" a sign of China's growing global influence," says a headline at Xinhua, the Chinese news agency. ("Taikonaut," it explains, is a made-up word combining the Chinese "taikong" (space) with the Greek "naut" (traveler)).
It quotes Chen Lin, a linguistics professor at the Beijing Foreign Studies University: "China is not only recognized as a nation with a long and fascinating history, but also a leading technological power."
Analysts at various think tanks (witness this BBC piece) say China is going into space for the same reasons the U.S. and the Soviet Union did forty years ago. It's showing off its technological prowess, consolidating its domestic strength, and -- oh, by the way -- reminding its Asian neighbors it can launch missiles with great precision.
Implied is that if they can launch taikonauts they can launch nuclear warheads too. But it is very different from the anxiety created by the first Soviet launches in the Cold War, recalled with rollicking fun by Tom Wolfe: "Many congressmen seemed to be on the edge of hysteria. Entire formations of Soviet space warriors, hurling thunderbolts at Schenectady...Grand Forks...Oklahoma City...Once again the Chief Designer was toying with them! God knew what his next surprise would be...(It would be a big one.)"
Roger Launius, formerly of NASA and now at the Smithsonian's Air and Space Museum, said, "There is a space race underway, but it is an Asian space race. It is between China, Japan, maybe Korea, certainly India. They are competing with each other for stature...."
Perhaps one sign of that is that Xinhua accidentally posted a story about the launch, complete with quotes ("The air pressure in the cabin is normal!") -- hours before it actually happened. It's gone now; enjoy the AP version HERE.
September 25, 2008 | Permalink | User Comments (9)
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God's speed Taikonauts!
Posted by: Deep Release | Sep 25, 2008 12:22:29 PM
Congratulations to the Chinese people for this historic achievement.
From the City That Built the Saturn V!!
Posted by: len | Sep 25, 2008 12:37:56 PM
So they don't just cheat at the Olympics then ... they cheat in space exploration too.
Posted by: Phil | Sep 25, 2008 4:47:30 PM
WOW!!! You mean to tell me China is conducting their FIRST space walk after putting a man into space for the first time only 2-3 years ago. If this was 1965 I might care.
Posted by: tommywo | Sep 27, 2008 12:18:49 PM
godspeed to the Taikonauts, for they represent the human race at this time to the cosmos and alien lifeforms.
Posted by: edward wone | Sep 27, 2008 12:23:43 PM
I celebrate all positive and non-agressive technological dreams of mankind around the world. I don't think it is fair to belittle their endeavors based on the fact that we got there first some time ago. As Walt Disney says, keep moving forward, world! There is a lot of bad in China today, but it is good to see some things positive are occurring also. Their people need things to be proud of, as do our own.
Posted by: iamwomaninMI | Sep 28, 2008 11:04:36 AM
From here in China, this is a big event. Millions of Chinese children watched this on TV, like my three year old son. They will be inspired to study subjects and choose careers which will aid this country's space program which may, yes quite possibly, reach the moon, Mars and beyond.
Posted by: shinpath | Sep 29, 2008 5:38:17 AM
Good for China. I'd prefer if people would refer to mankind reaching Mars or Luna, rather than this country did it first or that country. It takes away from the accomplishment, and just makes you look stupid. Many nations contributed to this endevour(spelling), not just China.
Posted by: Lawrence | Sep 29, 2008 8:39:57 AM
Gods speed and safe return Taikonauts!!!
Posted by: DobermanSpencer | Nov 18, 2008 5:19:38 PM
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