China's first manned space launch imminent

[Animal]

You think they are serious about reaching Mars?

I hope so.

[Ripsnort]

Originally posted by FUNKED1
[SIZE=10]CLINTON!!![/SIZE] [/B]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/special/campfin/stories/satellite123198.htm

Two American aerospace companies damaged U.S. national security when they provided Chinese space engineers with technical rocketry data that could have assisted Beijing's ballistic missile program, a House committee concluded yesterday in a classified 700-page report.
The panel's report is the most comprehensive review so far of evidence that Hughes Electronics Corp. and Loral Space & Communications Ltd. shared sensitive U.S. technologies as they pursued commercial relations in China. The committee's findings appeared to include detailed criticism of the Clinton administration's policy of loosening high-tech export restrictions as a way to promote trade.

"China's leaders are banking on a successful flight being a huge boost to the country's prestige and a demonstration of **its technological prowess. "

** Clintons

[crabofix]

Originally posted by GRUNHERZ
Holy crap its 1961 all over again, the commies are launching men to orbit while we're down here watching them, unable to access orbit ourselves for some time to come...  Yikes!

May I ask the group whose fault it is?

Group?

The Commies?

[NUKE]

Crabofix why do you have a picture of John Wayne as an avatar by the way? Is there some special meaning to it?

The interesting thing about the Chinese space launch ( to me) is that they refused to say when it would happen until after the fact and refused to broadcast it live out of fear it would fail. To me it shows they are more than 40 years behind in getting a man into space, both scientifically and culturally.

[Octavius]

Originally posted by Animal
You think they are serious about reaching Mars?

I hope so.

As do I.  But I don't want them to be first. =]

[crabofix]

Originally posted by NUKE
Crabofix why do you have a picture of John Wayne as an avatar by the way? Is there some special meaning to it?

Why?......good question, I need to change it.

[Krusher]

Originally posted by Chairboy
Howdy,

I'm not sure if everyone knows or not, but China may be within 24 hours of their first manned space flight.  This is a big deal, as the only countries to launch people into space aboard their own spacecraft so far have been USA and Russia/Soviet Union.

The chinese spacecraft is designed after the solid Soyuz design from Russia, but while Russia has contributed greatly to helping, the chinese say that it's definately not just a knock-off and their craft has additional capabilities.

I wish the chinese people well, and I hope their Taikonauts return safely!  The more people in space, the better.

it is a great achievment for them, but I would be more impressed if they were not using modified Russsian equipment.

[crabofix]

Well Right now it took off, the first manned chines spaceship.

[Karnak]

Originally posted by Octavius
As do I.  But I don't want them to be first. =]

My thoughts too.

[Animal]

I just want humans to reach Mars. If the USA are the first to do so, then thats just icing on the cake.

China has two more goals they have before mars. Building a space station comparable to Mir, and building a permanent settlement in the moon.

[NUKE]

If the US put a national effort into going to Mars even a fraction of what we did to reach the moon, we would be there soon if not already. As it stands I doubt the US will ever put a fraction of the  drive behind getting humans on Mars than which the Chinese seem to be  willing to exert.

That being said...China is about 40-60 years behind the US in getting a man only into orbit........considering they used US and Soviet know-how just to be able to do that much.

[Thrawn]

Uhh, isn't the space shuttle like, 1970's technology?  Another thing, the Chinese won't have to relearn alot of the stuff the US and Russia already spent time and money learning.

[ramzey]

so now china will send peoples in space for less money then russia and US? ;-)

soon they will own whole world:)

[NUKE]

Originally posted by Thrawn
Uhh, isn't the space shuttle like, 1970's technology?  Another thing, the Chinese won't have to relearn alot of the stuff the US and Russia already spent time and money learning.

The Shuttle is 1970's US technology, unmatched even today by any nation.

[Animal]

Originally posted by NUKE
The Shuttle is 1970's US technology, unmatched even today by any nation.

Because no one has tried to match or surpass it. The Russian shuttle was somewhat better but it went down the ****ter.

A better, safer, cheaper to operate alternative to the shuttle is more than viable with todays technology.