China launches first manned spacecraft [DRUDGE ANNOUNCES CHINA LAUNCH]

[truthisfreedom]

drudge just put up the flasher... china launched.

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2003-10/15/content_1123795.htm

China launches first manned spacecraft




www.chinaview.cn 2003-10-15 09:06:35

??JIUQUAN, Gansu, Oct. 15 (Xinhuanet) -- China's first manned spacecraft, the Shenzhou-5, blasted off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in the northwestern province of Gansu at 9 a.m. Wednesday.

??The spacecraft, atop a Long March II F rocket, was piloted by Yang Liwei, 38, a lieutenant colonel of the People's Liberation Army (PLA). Yang, a member of the PLA's Astronauts Team, was trained at home.

??The Shenzhou mission, if successful, will make China the third nation to send a man into outer space, following the former SovietUnion and the United States. Enditem

[Khephra]

1. I never thought I'd say this

But GO CHINA!

Maybe this will wake this nation from its apathy towards space travel.

[truthisfreedom]

2. i updated the story... rocket is in the air

[Maple]

3. Goooooo China!

Hoooo Haaaaaaah!!

[truthisfreedom]

4. new story link: washington post!

http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A26643-2003Oct14?language=printer

China Launches Manned Space Mission



The Associated Press
Tuesday, October 14, 2003; 9:09 PM






GOBI DESERT, China - China launched its first manned space mission on Wednesday, sending an astronaut hurtling toward orbit and becoming the third country in history to do so on its own - four decades after the Soviet Union and the United States.


The smoky tracer was visible against a bright, azure northwest China sky. The official Xinhua News Agency immediately confirmed the launch and said the astronaut was Yang Liwei, 38.



"China's first manned spacecraft, the Shenzhou 5, blasted off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in the northwestern province of Gansu at 9 a.m. Wednesday (9 p.m. EDT)," Xinhua said. State television cut into its programming to announce the launch.
<snip>

more!

[Emperor_Norton_II]

5. BBC now reporting

A Long March-II F rocket carrying the Shenzhou V spacecraft blasted off from the Gobi desert launch pad.

The craft is expected to orbit the Earth 14 times, returning about 21 hours later.

The astronaut on board was named as Yang Liwei, a 38-year-old from China's north-east.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/3192330.stm

[Minstrel Boy]

6. Godspeed, Yang Liwei.

I'm not as enamoured as I once was with manned spaceflight, but it's gotta be lonely up there.

[Cooley Hurd]

7. Any time a human is launched into orbit...

...it is a triumph for mankind. Kudos to China!!!

[Kitsune]

8. YAY! *nt*

[Maple]

9. The world

just changed. Ta da!

[bluestateguy]

10. Drudge is obsessed with Chinese military stories

He always prints Bill Gertz's heavy-breathing articles.

[Zech Marquis]

11. now on CNN

must be a huge shock for the sheeple :evilgrin: I wonder what old Darth Rummy said when he got the news?

Now Miles O Brian is trashing it--calling it a knockoff of the Russiam space program :argh: Geez!

[Maple]

12. So Miles O Brian...for all his name

has no clue.

Rivers in Egypt syndrome.

[Zech Marquis]

15. CNN--no surprise

after Columbia was destroyed on re-entry, the only people who managed to launch anyone into space were..the Russians, and now the Chinese. MilesO'Brien, they must be doing something right, you melon head! :eyes:

[jbutsz]

13. Congrats to China

And good luck to Yang Liwei..

[psychopomp]

14. ...And, I hope, a safe return for Mr. Yang

Congradulations, people of China!

[onehandle]

16. Hooray!

I think this is a good thing. All the more reason to keep our program progressing.

Congratulations to the slave-labor state that supports our economy!

Seriously, I am happy for this.
_____________________________

China claims its place in space

(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

http://www.cnn.com/2003/TECH/space/10/14/china.launch/index.html

[Ivory_Tower]

17. This could be great news -- but I wonder how Russia is reacting?

If there is a level of cooperation with China like there is between the US and Russia, this could be great for the global space program.

If only China wasn't so damn secretive about their program!

I wonder how Russia is reacting to this news?