China launches first manned space flight

Reuters ^ | 10-14-03

[Brian S]

Wed 15 October, 2003 02:07 BST

BEIJING (Reuters) - China has launched its first manned space flight from the Gobi desert, Xinhua news agency says, in its bid to become the third country to put a man in orbit after the former Soviet Union and the United States.

The Shenzhou V, or "Divine Ship V", was expected to orbit the Earth 14 times before returning after about 21 hours.

Xinhua said the craft carried astronaut Yang Liwei, 38. The launch on Wednesday, 42 years after the Soviet Union put the first man into space, marked a milestone for China's secretive space programme, which analysts say has its sights set on a manned mission to the moon.

[TheRedSoxWinThePennant]

More clinton legacy!

[Brett66]

So they don't know if it's in orbit yet? It's barely had enough time to get there.

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[zencat]

Congratulations. Welcome to 1961.

[zook]

Godspeed.

[MJY1288]

I think I saw it fly over my house, it said WALMART on the side of it :-)

[MJY1288]

I wonder what's next.... The pocket fisherman?

[Brian S]

Welcome to 1961.

Wasn't that the year our gov't was instructing us to "duck and cover"??? lol...

[CHATTAB]

Remember; they still have to get this astronaut back down to earth safely if they want to claim total success.
Kinda reminds me of a Ren and Stempy episode...
The two were somehow caught up in the Soviet space program.
Astronauts were given a number (like waiting at the deli)...
Failed launch after failed launch(explosion after explosion)...

[Viking2002]

Not that I wish ill towards the throttle jockey riding in that thing (I'm kind of envious, actually), I hope the damned thing crash lands in Chappaqua.


Poetic justice.

[Ramius]

the craft carried astronaut Yang Liwei, 38.

Boy, oh boy... would I ever hate to be THAT guy...

[Viking2002]

LMAO Thanks, bud. My bourbon just came out my nose.....LOL

[Brian S]

bump...zook. Godspeed for this soul.

[jaz.357]

Spam in the CAN!

[July 4th]

As I mentioned on the other thread, all that matters is the capsule. If the guy is dead inside, that can be "corrected."

[Semper Paratus]

I bet that if Wong Wei survived his "duel" with our surveilance plane in '01 he would be the one in orbit now.

[MJY1288]

I wonder if Bill Klinton and Al Gore were there to watch the lift off, God only knows the Chinese have them two treasonous bastards to thank for the technology