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| China-Japan-Koreas |
| China Prepares For Wednesday Star Trek Mission |
| 2005-10-11 |
| h/t Drudge -- Discovering the joys of sucking vacuum. China plans to launch two astronauts into orbit Wednesday for a mission lasting several days that is meant to seal its status as an emerging space power. The mission, which reportedly could last up to five days, is more ambitious and riskier than China's first manned space flight two years ago, which lasted just 21 1/2 hours. The manned space program is a high-profile prestige project for the ruling Communist Party. The 2003 flight made China only the third nation, after Russia and the United States, to send a human into orbit on its own. "Several days" is sufficiently vague to cover their asses, I guess. A launch every two years and by 2750, they'll be on the moon! A rocket carrying the Shenzhou VI capsule will blast off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in the Gobi Desert of China's northwest, the official Xinhua News Agency said Tuesday. It didn't give a time but said there would be a live television broadcast from the launch site. Xinhua said a crew had been picked from a field of six finalists but didn't give their names. The broadcast will be live. But we're not gonna tell you when or what channel. You had 7 Mercury Astronauts. We only needed 6 because we are the superior race. The flight this week will be more complicated than the 2003 mission, according to state media. Reports say the two astronauts will take off their 22-pound space suits to travel back and forth between the two halves of their vessel _ a re-entry capsule and an orbiter that is to stay aloft after they land. They will also conduct experiments, Xinhua said, but details weren't immediately released. Taking off the space suit is very complicated - and it's secret how it's done. But not nearly as secret as the secret experiments we'll conduct with breakfast drinks, funny fastening devices and other "space-age" goodies. Weep, poor Westerners! Meanwhile, China on Tuesday said it opposes deploying weapons in outer space and asserted that its ambitions in the field are strictly peaceful. "The Chinese government has consistently advocated the peaceful use of outer space and opposed the weaponization of outer space," said Foreign Ministry spokesman Kong Quan at a regular news briefing. "We do not wish to see any form of weapons in outer space, so we reaffirm that our space flight program is an important element of mankind's peaceful utilization of outer space." Of course, we will be dumping a large gunny sack of nuts and bolts into low-Earth orbit to, um, test stuff. Anti-satellite? No, of course not, why do you ask? In a break with the space agency's typical secrecy, Xinhua said a live broadcast of the entire flight would be provided to foreign media. Earlier reports said the liftoff and space flight would be shown on Chinese television with a brief delay, possibly to allow authorities to cut the signal if anything goes wrong. None of the 2003 space flight was shown live by Chinese television. Foreign reporters are barred from the remote launch base in the Gobi Desert in China's northwest. A handful of Chinese journalists are to be on hand for the liftoff, but have been warned that they might be ordered to hand over any photos or video _ a possible image-control measure if anything goes wrong. The Shenzhou -- or Divine Vessel -- capsule is based on Russia's three-seat Soyuz, though with extensive modifications. Space suits, life- support systems and other equipment are based on technology purchased from Russia. The word "based" is used loosely, here. "Copy" works, too. But it's improved. We put chopsticks-holders in the arm rests. China has had a rocketry program since the 1950s and fired its first satellite into orbit in 1970. It regularly launches satellites for foreign clients aboard its giant Long March boosters. I predict they'll shortly invent Tang, velcro, and thermal blankets. Many fabulous wonders will follow. |
| Posted by:.com |
| #1 But not nearly as secret as the secret experiments we'll conduct with breakfast drinks Forget Tang, I expect they stold the secret of Sputnik Brand instant beet juice. |
| Posted by: Shipman 2005-10-11 10:11 |