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Published online 22 September 2008 |
Nature
| doi:10.1038/news.2008.1123
Updated online: 26 September 2008
News
China's third manned space shot prepares for launch
Space walk planned for the "Hollywood mission".
China is preparing to launch its third manned space mission later this week — the nation's first where an astronaut will venture outside the spacecraft while in Earth's orbit. This extra-vehicular activity (EVA) sets the stage for China's next big challenge in space – to build a space station.
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STOP the Hubble Servicing Mission 4 now!!! It's TOO dangerous!!! There's no ISS "safe haven" near the Hubble!!! Do you want TWO Shuttles and 11 astronauts LOST in space??? It could be THE END of the Shuttle program and (perhaps) THE END of ALL manned space programs for LONG, LONG time!!! There are SEVERAL (much safer!!!) ways to upgrade the Hubble WITHOUT risk to lose 11 astronauts lives and make 11 widow(er)s and 20+ orphans!!! http://www.ghostnasa.com/hubbledeathtrap.jpg
Here's wishing the Chinese spacetravelers a safe journey and successful mission.
As of now it is reasonable to assume that the next great step for mankind is going to be space travel with emphasis on our movement towards other planets. Eventually, with the hope and possibility of the Homo sapiens making a home on other planets. Thus the Communist Chinese thrust in this discipline clearly makes evident their clear-cut long term ambitions. However, from a purely technological point of view what the Chinese are attempting and have done in the past in space sciences can not be considered as a major technological feat. We must remember that way back on 12 April 1961, Yuri Alexeyevich Gagarin of the then Soviet Union became the first human in space and also the first human to orbit the earth. The Chinese have been able to procure vintage 1960s technology (http://bbs.chinadaily.com.cn/attachments/month_0702/Shenzhou5-3_t59dB5XNQjTc.jpg) from the Russians for their (Chinese) manned space programme. Moreover, both the space modules and launch technology of the Chinese is mostly a modified version of what the U.S.S.R. utilized in the 1960s. Thus as of now this Chinese thrust into space gives the impression of also being a propaganda ploy. The other emerging space powers such as the European Union, Japan and India (http://isro.org/pslv-c7/photos/sre01.jpg) are moving towards reusable launch and orbital technologies, thus the space race has only begun. Finally, a healthy competition and cooperation is a must for rapidly achieving our goals in space sciences, particularly as far as interplanetary travel is concerned. Dr. Upinder Fotadar
Congratulations to China! May Chinese scientists learn from the past mistakes of NASA and not let blind dogma cheat them out of discovering the true nature of this beautiful universe and our Sun - the nearby star that gave birth to the solar system five (5) billion years ago and now sustain life here on planet Earth today because of repulsive interactions between neutrons in the solar core. Oliver K. Manuel, http://myprofile.cos.com/manuelo09, http://www.omatumr.com/Origin.htm, http://www.omatumr.com/Photographs/SolarEnergy.htm