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  China'll be on the moon before the US is again

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Author Topic:   China'll be on the moon before the US is again
Rodina
Member

Posts: 836
From: Lafayette, CA
Registered: Oct 2001

posted 01-02-2003 12:22 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Rodina     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote

Just watch. Taikonauts in Q3 of 2003.
http://europe.cnn.com/2003/TECH/space/01/01/china.space/

Rizz
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Posts: 1208
From: Upcountry, Maui, Hawaii
Registered: Mar 2002

posted 01-02-2003 03:51 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Rizz     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Looks like their leader has the right idea, asking all involved to "redouble their efforts and work in a pioneering spirit to make more contributions to the peaceful development of the outer space".

We symbolically sent an olive branch up to the moon, maybe they can send up a 'Bush'.

Rizz

[This message has been edited by Rizz (edited January 02, 2003).]

Paul
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Posts: 201
From: Duluth,Ga.
Registered: Aug 2002

posted 01-02-2003 03:52 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Paul   Click Here to Email Paul     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
A trip to the Moon by the Chinese will really impress the
younger generation...many of them think
that we're still sending American astronauts
to the Moon, thirty years after the fact...
I find that kind of sad!
Paul

pad leader
Member

Posts: 101
From: swadlincote, derbyshire uk
Registered: Nov 2002

posted 01-02-2003 04:25 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for pad leader   Click Here to Email pad leader     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
hey maybe its the dawn of a new space race usa v china.

BigWaveDave
Member

Posts: 202
From: Waikoloa, Hawaii, USA
Registered: Jan 2002

posted 01-02-2003 04:59 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for BigWaveDave   Click Here to Email BigWaveDave     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Ahhh ........it's all being faked. The Chinese are just brushing up on their Hollywood skills.

BigWaveDave
Member

Posts: 202
From: Waikoloa, Hawaii, USA
Registered: Jan 2002

posted 01-02-2003 05:10 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for BigWaveDave   Click Here to Email BigWaveDave     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
......on the other hand this could be a great time to get in on the ground floor of Chinese Space Flight memorabilia.

Has anyone sent off for items listed by ASTD?
Is this considered supporting a communist regime? If it supports space exploration,should we even care?

Dave

Rodina
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Posts: 836
From: Lafayette, CA
Registered: Oct 2001

posted 01-02-2003 06:54 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Rodina     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote

I'm fond of pointing out Chinese successes around here not because I want the Chinese to beat us back to the Moon for its own sake, but 27 years of international cooperation in space (since, say, ASTP) has gotten us nowhere compared to 12 years of international hostility (Sputnik to Apollo 11) --- I'd much rather feel threatened a Chinese moon base (assuming it would get us back up there) than feel all internationally-fuzzy by knowing the first ever Astronaut from Andorra is going up to the ISS.

I despise everything about the government in Beijing - its systemic abuse of religious freedom and its bellicose attitude toward the people of Taiwan - but I'll stomach a few wins by them if it will get us back into space in a big way... so, right now, nothing would be better to kick start our space program than to have the Chinese go to the moon and claim it -- and I'm hoping for nothing short.

bruce
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Posts: 916
From: Fort Mill, SC, USA
Registered: Aug 2000

posted 01-02-2003 08:14 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for bruce   Click Here to Email bruce     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Maybe we should just give the Chinese a respectful nod and a wave as we pass by their lunar base on our way to Mars.

Philip
Member

Posts: 5952
From: Brussels, Belgium
Registered: Jan 2001

posted 01-04-2003 11:59 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Philip   Click Here to Email Philip     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Nice topic, certainly if we consider how fast things moved for the Chinese space program ... It was officially announced in July 199 and since then already 4 launches took place of the SHENZHOU spacecraft ( " Divine vessel " ) from the JIUQUAN space launch centre;
20 NOVEMBER 1999 + 09 JANUARY 2001 + 25 MARCH 2002 + 29 DECEMBER 2002 ...
Next launch might certainly be a Manned vehicle carrying 2 " Taikonauts "

Read more at this excellent link;
http://www.astronautix.com/craft/shenzhou.htm

[This message has been edited by Philip (edited January 04, 2003).]

Robert Pearlman
Editor

Posts: 42985
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999

posted 01-04-2003 12:18 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Robert Pearlman   Click Here to Email Robert Pearlman     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
If you believe what is being reported by Sing Tao Daily than the first flight will have a solo yuhangyuan (China's preferred term for their astronauts; taikonaut was an invention of reporters in Malaysia and China) later this year. Furthermore, Sing Tao says the identity of the first yuhangyuan is Mr. Chen Long. No further information has been released....

Rodina
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Posts: 836
From: Lafayette, CA
Registered: Oct 2001

posted 01-04-2003 01:39 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Rodina     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote

Anyone know how to pronounce "yuhangyuan"?

Philip
Member

Posts: 5952
From: Brussels, Belgium
Registered: Jan 2001

posted 01-04-2003 01:44 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Philip   Click Here to Email Philip     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
O.K. ROBERT,
That would be nice for the Chinese in that way they will have a "First" just as GAGARIN and SHEPARD or GLENN in the other 2 spacefaring nations ...
I believe the CHinese selected about 20 cosmonauts in the 1970s and nowadays about 14 are training at Starcity ...

Robert Pearlman
Editor

Posts: 42985
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999

posted 01-04-2003 01:47 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Robert Pearlman   Click Here to Email Robert Pearlman     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
YOO-hong-wans

mensax
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Posts: 861
From: Virginia
Registered: Apr 2002

posted 01-04-2003 03:14 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for mensax   Click Here to Email mensax     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Robert, you wouldn't be making this up would you? Sort of a new years thing maybe?...

YOU-hung-OVER?

Noah

Robert Pearlman
Editor

Posts: 42985
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999

posted 01-04-2003 03:25 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Robert Pearlman   Click Here to Email Robert Pearlman     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I'm not that witty, Noah. :-)

Yuhangyuan appears to be an abbreviation for yuzhou hangxing yuan, which means "space navigator" in Chinese.

(The pronounciation is courtesy the Orlando Sentinel.)

BigWaveDave
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Posts: 202
From: Waikoloa, Hawaii, USA
Registered: Jan 2002

posted 01-04-2003 04:42 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for BigWaveDave   Click Here to Email BigWaveDave     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I interpeted that to be.....

"Yo....hung ones". Gotta be to strap into a Chinese rocket.

Dave

Rodina
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Posts: 836
From: Lafayette, CA
Registered: Oct 2001

posted 01-04-2003 07:32 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Rodina     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote

It is there program and, of course, their language, but I though "astronaut, cosmonaut and taikonaut" had a nice ring to it. I think we will kind of see how the media plays it when the Chinese do this --- names have a way of sticking given their early use...

I have only read what I know from the space media - Aviation Leak, space.com, etc. - but my hunch is that the Chinese are going to go circumlunar in time for the 2008 Olympic Games. A landing may be 2015 or so, but I bet circumlunar is a goal in the intermediate term.

Robert Pearlman
Editor

Posts: 42985
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999

posted 01-04-2003 07:48 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Robert Pearlman   Click Here to Email Robert Pearlman     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
The media first picked up on the Moon as a destination back in May, when Chinese representatives with no connection to the space program made passing (and very generalized) comments about lunar exploration. Suddenly, the mass media was reporting a manned mission by 2008. Unfortunately, the counter article didn't get as much press. Ouyang Ziyuan, chief scientist of China's Moon exploration program, when interviewed by the BBC in May clarified that China's plans were focused on unmanned vehicles and probes. "We will explore the Moon certainly," he said "but with unmanned spacecraft."

In today's HindustanTimes.com article, reporting at an ongoing "Space Summit" in Bangalore, Guo Baozhu, vice administrator of the Chinese National Space Academy, confirmed that the lunar exploration program proposed thus far has yet to receive government approval. At least eight months after first being reported worldwide, China's lunar plans are still unoffical and in the study phase.

I hope China has bold plans and succeeds at reaching each, but its important to put today's mainstream reporting into perspective.

Rodina
Member

Posts: 836
From: Lafayette, CA
Registered: Oct 2001

posted 01-04-2003 08:53 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Rodina     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
No doubt about that Robert. But don't read too much into an official denial, either... I can think of a certain other large, nuclear-armed space-faring nation that denied it was ever interested in going to the moon.

But since much of the technology leading toward a circumlunar flight is the same stuff you need for advanced orbital flights (recall the plans, however tenative, for a circumlunar Gemini), I wouldn't rule it out... and, given an official denial (which often tell you more than just about anything when dealing with -any- government), I'd be willing to take a bet, say, 3:1 against.

If China thinks they can do it --- I bet the go for it, and soon.

[This message has been edited by Rodina (edited January 04, 2003).]

rjurek349
Member

Posts: 1190
From: Northwest Indiana
Registered: Jan 2002

posted 01-04-2003 10:09 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for rjurek349   Click Here to Email rjurek349     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I've been following the Chinese developments for a while, as well. It will be fun to watch. Wouldn't it be great to someday see a three-person international Apollo 200X crew with an American, Russian, and Chinese on board? One can only dream...

Anyway, there are a few sites I poke around at to keep up on the topic. Thought I'd share with the broader group. Robert, while some of these might be older -- one or two might be worth adding to the reference section of the site once they launch a human. I really like the spaceref and Dragonspace sites. But it is cool they have their own CNSA site as well.

Rich

China National Space Administration http://www.cnsa.gov.cn/

Dragon Space -- "your portal to China" http://www.spacedaily.com/china.html

The "unofficial" Chinese space website: http://www.geocities.com/CapeCanaveral/Launchpad/1921/

The Federation of American Scientist page on the Chinese space program: http://www.fas.org/spp/guide/china/

The Spaceref "Focus on China" page http://www.spaceref.com/focuson/china/


Anyone else have any good pages? I am always looking to add to my book marks!!!

[This message has been edited by rjurek349 (edited January 04, 2003).]

spaceuk
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Posts: 2113
From: Staffs, UK
Registered: Aug 2002

posted 01-05-2003 10:06 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for spaceuk     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
As an aside I think the term "taikonauts" will become the western press word for a Chinese astronaut.

Only because it is easier to spell and pronounce but will - inevitably - lead to headlines like " Chinese Taikonaut-Away" in the cheaper side tabloids and radio/TV stations.

rjurek349
Member

Posts: 1190
From: Northwest Indiana
Registered: Jan 2002

posted 01-07-2003 09:47 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for rjurek349   Click Here to Email rjurek349     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
According to this article at CNN.com:
http://www.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/asiapcf/south/01/06/india.moon.reut/index.html

With China's success and targeted manned flight, India wants to toss its hat in the ring for a lunar shot by 2015. While China will undoubtedly get a manned flight off sooner, wouldn't a moon race between India and China -- or a collaborative effort -- be amazing? There is a lot of technology expertise in India.

BLACKARROW
unregistered
posted 01-07-2003 06:23 PM           Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
China and India landing on the Moon?? Let's see them get into orbit first!

Paul
Member

Posts: 201
From: Duluth,Ga.
Registered: Aug 2002

posted 01-07-2003 10:05 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Paul   Click Here to Email Paul     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
How long before Mr. Chen Long autograph
forgeries start showing up on eBay?!!

Paul

eurospace
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Posts: 2610
From: Brussels, Belgium
Registered: Dec 2000

posted 01-08-2003 03:30 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for eurospace   Click Here to Email eurospace     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
quote:
Originally posted by BLACKARROW:
Let's see them get into orbit first!

Interesting approach. :-)

When Kennedy announced the Moon programme, the US hadn't even had a single manned orbit in the log ....

Thus far, they follow the tradition ... :-)

------------------
Jürgen P Esders
Berlin, Germany
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Astroaddies

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