If these were small steps, then now we are taking a giant leap into space.

[Wulfman]

I guess I have the job to report this if nobody else wants to: China has finally managed to place the first taikonaut in space. How long will it take them to reach for the moon?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/3192330.stm

mfg
wulfman

[Jon P. Inghram]

Someone forgot to tell them that the moon is a tad bit further away than low Earth orbit.

[High_Jumbllama]

Perhaps, but is is still an incredible achievement and there is something to be said for doing it yourself rather than depending on others.

Edit:
Fixed spelling.

[Wulfman]

and before someone posts that they bought all the technology from the russians: give them credit for what they have archieved and how they develeoped their own style, as their gear is definitly different.

mfg
wulfman

[K6-III]

Not even close to just buying the technology from the russians.

Better than the Soyuz in every way;

More internal volume
MUCH newer avionics than anything else, including the Shuttle
Self-developed Long March II-F carrier rocket with greater capacity than the Soyuz carrier rocket, the R7.
Auto rotating solar arrays to constantly point at the sun.
...and the kicker...apparently designed for use beyond Low Earth Orbit with but a change of the heatsheild.

Note that the Soyuz was originally the Soviet capsule for going to the moon. It really makes sense to follow that as a standard, given that it is the safest thing to fly to date and good for both LEO and beyond LEO.

I'd give it a couple years until the CZ-5E rocket is made available, along the lines of the Russian Proton in launch capacity, and space stations ala the Russian Salyut are assembled. Expect them to be used as a staging ground for lunar missions, whereas the ISS with its high orbital inclination is useless in that regard. I'd also expect them to be used as orbital reconissaince platforms like the Salyut was.

I take it they won't be stupid enough to waste Shenzhou's on going to ISS...

[Gurm]

Interesting. This might prompt us to return to the moon, although I doubt it. I don't know if there's anything there worth having, but honestly I wouldn't want the Chinese to have sole custody of the lunar surface!

- Gurm

[Wulfman]

from what I've read it is already possible to link 2 of these capsules together to form a rudimentary "space station".

mfg
wulfman

[Technoid]

hehe, they maight even be able to hold clarkes time table

[Chrono_Wanderer]

First of all, congrats Yang Liwei and China

Second of all, I think Chinese have EXTREMELY aggressive plans in these 2 decades for their space and military program. Take their J-10 for example, they used to own/make MiG-21s which are jokes. So suddenly they roll out a 4th generation fighter with virtually no piror aricraft building experience, and buy hundreds of Sukhois from the Russians to modenize the PLAAF. Pretty agressive I say.

Well, Wulfman is right, they have aggressive plans to build their own space station within this decade. (I think it was stage 2 of their manned space program).

Actually, I think Chinese going to moon is a waste of money. They really should fix up their social problems within their country first. Actually I think they can do this concurrently lol... its jsut a matter of whatever they will do it or not... Eastern side of China is so poor its not even funny.

[KvHagedorn]

Originally posted by Wulfman
and before someone posts that they bought all the technology from the russians: give them credit for what they have archieved and how they develeoped their own style, as their gear is definitly different.

mfg
wulfman

I was gonna say it was all that spying done here under the lax Clintonista regime.

[KvHagedorn]

Originally posted by Technoid
hehe, they maight even be able to hold clarkes time table

For those of us who aren't serious sci-fi nuts, what is that, exactly?

[Chrono_Wanderer]

ok, I think to a certain extinct they did get support from the Russians. after all, they do have very close military tides. Interesting thing is this program went so smoothly too, right on schedule. But I hear Yang Liwei claims that he got training at Russia for 1 week only, so if this claim is true maybe the Chinese actually did some internsive works. Its strange that doesn't even have his own aircraft carrier, but has his own manned spacecraft lol...

[Wombat]

Yes, it's similar to Soyuz. But, don't forget that the Soyuz is surprisingly similar to the GE design proposed for the Apollo missions.

[westonez]

Its strange that doesn't even have his own aircraft carrier, but has his own manned spacecraft lol...
__________________________________________________ __________________________________

As a attack unit a aircraft carrier is limited.
But as a space or moon based launch platform.
Much more bang for your bucks, er yen?

[High_Jumbllama]

He got back safely.