News: China claims its place in space

[bob]

(CNN) -- China's first astronaut Yang Liwei is in orbit following a successful launch Wednesday morning from the Jiuquan launch site in the western Gobi Desert, state media reports.

Speaking from space, the 38-year-old astronaut reported back to mission controllers that he "feels good" and said the spacecraft is operating normally, the state-run Xinhua news agency reported.



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How do you define 3rd world? - again please.

<a href="http://www.forumclick.com/viewnews.php?id=55">http://www.forumclick.com/viewnews.php?id=55</a>

[Lucifer]

The Chinese were the ones who invented rockets.
The launch method is a bit crude: "Light blue touch paper and stand well back"

[drisley]

I wish them luck. They may be "commies" trying to do something we did decades ago, but its always good to see man expand, and going into space certainly does that...

[WJWheels]

Hopefully it'll speed up my local Chinese Carry-0ut. :D

[WindeC]

Originally posted by drisley
I wish them luck. They may be "commies" trying to do something we did decades ago, but its always good to see man expand, and going into space certainly does that...

Yeah and very possibly, they will go further then we ever have.

[Lucifer]

Are they still commies? It seems like they are allowing a lot of free enterprise these days.
Perhaps they are trying to turn from being a communist totalitarian state to a fascist totalitarian state, without bothering with democracy in between.

[bob]

Whatever they are they seem to be positioned to overtake the US in space in 20 years if we sit on our asses.

[WindeC]

Well somebody go bitch to Bush then, or his successor. Of course probably neither one will be interested as they will want to kiss Israels ass first.

[mbossman2]

Originally posted by bob
Whatever they are they seem to be positioned to overtake the US in space in 20 years if we sit on our asses.

Unfortunately to many, space exploration is viewed as a wateful extravagance. There will come a time, where it may be necessary that we expand beyond our earthly confines and spread out amongst our solar system and then, eventually the stars.

Politicians and many people take the short term view. the Chinese (and other countries) seem to have the ability to take a much longer view than to the end of their noses.

[drisley]

Taking long-term views is a skill of the Chinese culture.

Maybe Chinese activity will help spur on our own space race again. I'd much rather dedicate some tax dollars to NASA than to some of the other useless shit they waste our money on.

[troysvihl]

We should all welcome the People's Republic of China as they finally enter the mid-20th Century.

[WindeC]

Originally posted by drisley
Taking long-term views is a skill of the Chinese culture.

Maybe Chinese activity will help spur on our own space race again. I'd much rather dedicate some tax dollars to NASA than to some of the other useless shit they waste our money on.

Same here.