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View Full Version : China achieves manned spaceflight - Now what?


David Prahl
10-15-2003, 03:26 AM
I just read that China has indeed launced a rocket into Earth orbit carrying a man, the first "taikonaut". I probably don't need to remind you that this makes China only the third nation to be able to launch a man into space and safely return him/her to the earth.

http://i.cnn.net/cnn/2003/TECH/space/10/14/china.launch/story.launch.jpg
The craft during it's ascent

He has yet to land the capsule, but my question is this: How do you think this will effect us? Many people are toying with the idea of a second "space race", but I personally feel this is unlikely. With the EU sending SMART-1 to the moon a few weeks ago, and now this, what changes do you think will happen to humanity?

David Prahl
10-15-2003, 03:35 AM
...COUGH...

Russia's Soyuz capsule:
http://www.spaceprojects.com/Mir/soyuz-frontpage1.gif


China's Shenzhou capsule:
http://www.spaceref.co.jp/homepage/launch/images/shenzhou.jpg

Steven Cedrone
10-15-2003, 04:13 AM
Well...

In time, it could mean we have another method of getting men/women and supplies up to the ISS...

But, they seem to be at a stage that both the U.S. and (at the time) U.S.S.R were at 40+ years ago, so I would imagine that's a long way off...

Steve

Wontonion
10-15-2003, 04:38 AM
Yeah, i hear that equipment shipped from China to the ISS is vastly cheaper and almost as good as the US-made stuff. Sounds like a go!

cooldw57
10-20-2003, 12:54 AM
US, Russia, China, EU together we should conquer the world 0X