Chinese in Space

[xoxoxoBruce]

author: Stephanie Hoo
BEIJING (AP) -- China plans to launch two astronauts into orbit on its second manned space flight as early as this week, using the occasion to trumpet its ambitions as a global power.

State media say the launch might happen Thursday -- almost exactly two years after the first Chinese manned space mission in 2003 -- but the date hasn't been confirmed by the government.

Foreign reporters are barred from the remote base in the Gobi Desert in China's northwest. A handful of Chinese journalists, including some from Hong Kong, are to be on hand for the launch, but have been warned that they might be ordered to hand over any photos or video -- a possible image-control measure if anything goes wrong.

The communist government attaches enormous national prestige to its space program, which is closely linked to the secretive military.

In a nation with an annual income per person of less than $1,000 and where millions get by on far less, the government justifies the expense of manned space flight by saying it will help drive economic and technological development.

China's first space flight in 2003 gave the communist leadership bragging rights as only the third government to send a human into orbit on its own, after Russia and the United States.

The manned space program appeals to nationalist sentiment, helping the Communist Party shore up its public standing amid widespread frustration over corruption and a growing gulf between the country's tiny economic elite and its poor majority.

The plan this week is for two astronauts to blast off aboard the Shenzhou 6 capsule.
Three two-member teams of astronauts have arrived at the base near the city of Jiuquan, and the crew for the launch will be picked following a final battery of medical and psychological tests, the state newspaper Wuhan Evening News reported Monday. It cited only "high-level information."

The Shenzhou -- or Divine Vessel -- capsule is based on Russia's three-seat Soyuz, although with extensive modifications.

Space suits, life-support systems and other equipment are based on technology purchased from Russia, although Beijing says all items to be sent into space are Chinese-made.

China has had a rocketry program since the 1950s and shot its first satellite into orbit in 1970. It regularly launches satellites for foreign clients aboard its giant Long March boosters.

In its first manned flight, a rocket carrying Col. Yang Liwei, a former fighter pilot, blasted into orbit in October 2003. Yang orbited the Earth for 21 1/2 hours and returned a national hero.

Chinese space officials say they want to land an unmanned probe on the moon by 2010 and build a space station.

The road to China's space center is a forbidding route patrolled by military vehicles. A sign along the way says in English, "Foreigners are not allowed to enter without permission."

China doesn't participate in the U.S.-led international space station project.

The second flight will be longer and more complicated, lasting five days, according to state media. Reports say the two astronauts will take off their 22-pound suits to travel back and forth between the two halves of their spacecraft --
a re-entry capsule and an orbiter that is to stay aloft after they land.

They will also conduct experiments.

In the 2003 flight aboard Shenzhou 5, Yang was confined to his re-entry module for the duration of the flight.

State TV is to show 54 hours of live coverage of the launch, orbit and re-entry, the Hong Kong newspaper Wen Hui Bao newspaper said Sunday.

A documentary about failed space missions by other countries will be aired if the launch does not succeed, the newspaper said, citing Fu Xiaoting, the live broadcast director for China Central Television.

The space center itself is a high-tech oasis in the Gobi Desert in one of China's poorest regions. The government allowed foreign journalists to visit on a guided tour in September 2004, revealing a sprawling campus kept lush and green by rows of sprinklers.

Nearby, peasants struggle to grow crops in the arid desert climate. Women harvest cotton by hand as their children play beside them. Average farm incomes in the area hover around $470 per household a year, and parts of Gansu still depend on food aid from elsewhere in China.

It sounds to me like Ms Hoo doesn't approve of China spending money on space shots while the people live in poverty.
The Astronauts are ready, the spaceship is ready and most importantly, the propaganda machine is ready.

[xoxoxoBruce]

Well, they blasted off sucessfully.
They won't have to run the video of other countries failing.

[glatt]

Good for them.

[xoxoxoBruce]

Why? Is it worth the expense for bragging rights? They already have a good business going launching satillites. What do they have to gain from these manned missions?

[xker]

Hey,this article is a little jaundiced .
There are many disputes about it in China now,many people think that gov should use the money in other place too.I'm not very interested in this launching,but I would support gov this time,because this is much more important than most people know.

[glatt]

Originally Posted by xoxoxoBruce

Why? Is it worth the expense for bragging rights? They already have a good business going launching satillites. What do they have to gain from these manned missions?

You could ask all the same questions about our Space Station and plan for a Mars mission. From a practical point of view, our manned space program doesn't make too much sense either.

[xoxoxoBruce]

Agreed! Now that we and the Russians have proven it's not profitable, or at least not the efficient way to spend space money, why are the Chinese flogging the dead horse?
Maybe the distrust of the capitalist running dogs makes them think we've been witholding secrets they will discover up there.

[tw]

Originally Posted by glatt

You could ask all the same questions about our Space Station and plan for a Mars mission. From a practical point of view, our manned space program doesn't make too much sense either.

The only part of the NASA budget that does any real science is a diminishing less than 10% on unmanned space vehicles. How many know of Cassin, Pioneer, Huygens, Solar Max, Voyager (that is now asking some questions about quantum physics), the European series of Earth science birds, Ulysses, SOHO, NEAR, Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer, CGRO, and Infrared Space Observatory. Everyone has done more science than ISS - for but pennies compared to the $tens of billions that ISS will cost. And these are just a few of hundreds that do real science. Notice that the most successful space project in world history is Hubble: unmanned. Even the Mars Rovers had trouble getting a few $million to keep working this year. Knowledge about real science is that unknown even where money is approved. You do know of all of the above spacecraft? They why would you know if manned missions are important? The spectacular and most successful space missions (using science as the critieria) have all been unmanned.

China is simply doing manned space flights for same reasons that America went to the moon. Political prestige. Notice in all those moon landings, we only sent one scientist. A geologist eventually was sent to finally do some geological rock selections.

So what will the next generation American space craft be? We are simply going backwards to space capsules again - because we wasted so much time and money on an 'Air Force' space plane. Who are the world leaders in space launching? The French followed by the Russians - both of whom concentrated on the purpose of space flight rather than in political prestige.

Since we were wasting money, then why not do even more for political reasons only - the International Space Station - that does virtually no science. Even earth monitoring science is all done by unmanned space craft - not by manned spaceflight.

Such facts are not politically correct. And so we invent myths about the products of manned spaceflight - such as the transistor, the microcomputer, and Tang.

[Happy Monkey]

Sometimes success is profit enough.

[xker]

Hi Bruce,your conception of today's China is far behind the times,I havn't heard word "capitalist running dogs" from the media for about 20 years and "communism" for about five years--even longer .
Here's an article(part) from a Chinese inofficial commercial analyzing and consulting company,it related to this topic,I'll try to translate it,and...of course,pls be patient with my &*^!@&^!@&%^ English:

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[Eastern current affairs analyse:Behind Galileo,there's actually a large layout of "China,EU and Russia oppose US together"]

10/25/2004

As early as 1980s,president of US Reagan ratified "Strategic Defense Initiative(SDI)",this required US army to develop a defense system which can defense the missile attacking from USSR using out space science and technology.This plan once begot violent opposing from ally of US.Along with the end of cold war,SDI died in its bed too.Little does one think,20 years later,the SDI resurrect again and this time,Washington wants much more than before:to be the only overlord of out space.

After quote one news,analyst will start today's commentary.

*US threatened to destroy the satellites developed by EU and China together,maybe demarcate flying forbidden zone of satellites*
<business weekly> of US yesterday...(pass over)

*EU made a uncompromising response*
...(pass over)

*can rivalize with Ameria's Geography Information System(GPS)*
...(pass over)


[news commentary]
*What's everybody's feeling of US's uncomfortable with EU's "Galileo" plan?*

We took notice of one sentence in the news,the analyst said that US's menace to "Galileo" showed evidence of the real martial value of GPS.From our point of view,he's right,but still havn't point out the essential.

However,since most people like to analyze it from military viewpoint,news analyst will comment this menace to EU from military viewpoint together with our military affairs analyst,and find out the deep reason why US not hesitate to threaten to destroy the "Galileo" satellites of EU.

*Two mostly seeming reasons why US is hostile to "Galileo"*

Our military affairs analyst's viewpoint,if think it only from military,we could easy see that there are two mostly seeming reasons why US is hostile to "Galileo".First,as the analyst above said,it is because GPS is the core of the satellite navigating technology which can be use in both military and civil area,it has a great value of military and economy.

As we know,US is the overlord of satellite navigating all along--at least 25 years.But now,he's in face of strong challenge.In fact,from Irag war,people on the earth got various notes,the most important one is to study a wisdom again:there's only eonian interest between countries,no eonian friends.

*Sequela of US's overrating of his military power*

Military affairs analyst's viewpoint,to US,who's tring for get the eminent domain of the world,the outcome of Irag war which was supposed to be much more simple,could be described as sequela of overrating his military power.Maybe you can remember,during the Irag war,there was a period of time that US's cruise missile which was always highly exact,and a lot of deft bombs depend on GPS flew to many wrong places after they arriving the target area.

When the whole world be curious it,the leader of the Pentagon,Rumsfeld and US Secretary of State Colin Powell started to rebuke Russia that some people in the war industry "smuggle" a kind of GPS interfering apparatus to Irag "privately" angrily and professed that if Russia do nothing to stop it,US will retaliate.

And we noticed too,at first Russia rebuffed this rebuking,instead they said:"Is US's cruise missile so easy to be interfered?".In fact,from military affairs analyst's viewpoint,why the "battle-ax" cruise missile's ability of anti-jamming is much lower than US crowed about,the reason is that the GPS of US is so easy to interfering.

*Putin was really sulky,he decided to let "battle-ax" flying in confusion*

As for the "retaliating" Washington said,from our point of view at that time,just a kind of helpless browbeat.In fact, the GPS interfering apparatus which made Rumsfeld so angry,is just a electron apparatus size as a cigarette box,it's not some extraordinary technology,not only Russia,China and Europe can make it too,and already equipped the army long time ago.

from the information after this event,it's evident that there wasn't a "resultful talk" between US and Ruassia before the war,and wasn't a "resultful talk" after the war starting too.Some observers said with a little jocose that it was because Putin saw that American's bombs like to bomb oil equipments of Russian companys especially,so he was really sulky,and decided to let "battle-ax" flying in confusion as warinning.

Since rebuking and threatening were useless,Bush sent Rice to Moscow and talked with Putin for several days,then Putin appeared personally and only said in Washington mode:can't exclude the possibility of someone "smuggle" GPS interfering apparatus to third country "privately",then make a detour to irag.

Of course,along with "battle-ax" started to far away from Russian equipments,there flying line looks "much more normal".

*US's GPS is indispensable,but as well as very weak*

Military affairs analyst mention the "history" here is to show the fact that GPS is not only a indispensable part of US army,but also "very weak".

So,from our viewpoint,the weakness of US's GPS is a important academic basic of unrestricted war which was brought forward by two Chinese armyman.The "unrestricted war" has been published all over the world now,either China,or Europe or Russia,has the ability to implement it,and has the ability to pinch off US army's global navigate system" in wartime,put a lot of US army's military equipment into darkness.

*US wants to upgrade GPS,but "Galileo" occupy the "navigating frequency" preemptivly*

Said so many words,we just want to prove that the 25 years old GPS is not only weak,but also has a shortcoming of low precision,American want to upgrade it a long time ago.

To increase precision,US must use new navigating frequency,but this frequency is token up by European for "Galileo".What makes American intranquil is that "Galileo" has better ability of anti-jamming and has higher locating precision:it's precision is 1 meter,and current GPS is 20 meter.

But up to now,though GPS has this or that shortcoming,it's the only one in the world,although Russia and China already have there own satellite navigating system,but in range and precision,still can't mention in the same breath with GPS.

*US can cut off the effective signal of GPS at any moment*

This means that China,Russia and Europe who depend on GPS in the same way,might can't receive the effective signal of GPS at any moment in future because American won't let you use it.Not faraway,just look into the conjunctures and wars recent years,without exception,every time at the moment of truth,US manipulated GPS arbitrarily only "according to his own desire",monopolize it's military use,or shutdown it's civil capability pro tempore,totally ignore the feeling of other country,include European country.

In business,if want to use GPS,must buy American signal receiving equipments.Air industry of Europe such as Air Bus,completely depend on American equipments.It's a difficult live under other's control,so although US force them for many times,European still decided to "self-depend",and break the monopoly of US.

*The reason why US can't abide with "Galileo" is full of self-serving*

"Galileo" was born on this situation and this is the second seeming reason why US is hostile to "Galileo"."Galileo" will be a global satellite navigating system European make to US-independent.From Military affairs analyst's point of view,when it's done,"Galileo" could let participators gain great industrial and commercial benefit,and more important,it will let European have the precondition to found their "European Common Security Defense System",this a important reason why US can't abide with "Galileo".

But as we add "seeming" before reason,we think the deep reason is much more self-serving.

We know that early to last year,the Pentagon had already started to design a new SDI plan,full of ambition.News disclose that SDI of Bush's version is much more advanced than the Reagan's version,it is absolutely not exaggerated that we say the plan is "full of ambition",in fact,Bush's version only uses the name of Reagan's plan,the content is almost totally new.

*The Pentagon want to found "out space patroling armada*

What Bush and his team want is develop a large number of militory space ship,found out space patroling armada,then found a powerful militory empire out of ozonosphere.This plan begot a high watchfulness from Europe.One stratagem analysis of Europe we got point out that if US actualize their plan successfully,at least to year 2014,US will be the only one of out space.

The conclusion of this report is,if this happed,the largest change of world politics and Security situation in the history will occur,at that time,US will not has any ally of conventional meaning,he will just has servants of conventional meaning.

...
...
(too long,I can't continue now... )

[xoxoxoBruce]

Thanks xker. First of all, "capitalist running dogs" was a joke. Most people here are aware it's an old reference and at least 20 years out of date.
Communism may not be used in your media but it's still used in the west for a number of countries.
I'm well aware that China is evolving. It will be interesting to see the balance working itself out between the government and business.

The article you translated is interesting in that it gives another point of view to the happenings in the military objectives of different parties. Some I was not aware of, some I think is right and others I suspect (or know) are wrong.

BUT, my question is why are the Chinese using their resources for a manned effort that will give them the same result that a less expensive unmanned program can yield? They should be able to ascertain from studying the Russian and US programs that real progress has been achieved from the unmanned programs.

[xker]

continue..

Of course,no one like to be a servant,especially Europe,who's care of human rights alot.When knew the intention of Bush's team,media of Europe disclose it firstly,furthermore European countries make difficulties through different channels.But we remember it clearly,after the people knew this intention,minister of US air force straightly warned US's allys don't say anything about it,and don't try to "do any veto".The message was very clear:it's useless to argue against this plan.

Our chief analyst point out that this "SDI" is not the old SDI,maybe to show their decision,the base camp of new conservatism,the Pentagon,named this plan "veto".How arbitrary is it,just like Rumsfeld and Cheney,the name is full of new conservatism too.This is understandable:there were no word "ally" in their brains when Rumsfeld and Cheney who are fans of force,threw out the "veto" plan soon after Bush declared the win of Irag war on aircraft carrier high-spirited and vigorous.

From military analyst's viewpoint,US GPS act as a crucial role in the Irag war,this made the Pentagon be more certain of that the key of global arms race is "how to get the right to control out space" apparently.

In fact,EU,who's power of economy equal to US,clearly know that one important reason of why US can attack Irag without considering there feeling is their un-solidarity.When we put our eyes on the "un-solidarity" of EU,we should think about it:why they can't draw together?

From chief analyst's viewpoint,the reason was shown early to Kosovo war.At that time,both France,Germany,UK and Italy were anxious to fight with Jugoslavia Union,but Clinton refuse to help them at first.

As far as European dollar started,Clinton decide to lead NATO to crumple Jugoslavia Union up.So,as the same time as EU pulled out the fuze of "Balkan" powder flask by dint of US's force,the neonatal EUR was beat down too.All this was because the weakness of EU's force.

In fact,EU wanted to solve the "Balkan" problem before EUR started,it's best for the stabilization of EUR,but they can't do it theirself,the fact proved that European don't dared to solve the strategic problem which is related to the life and death of a uniform EU without the help of American.

At last,European had no choice but using the opportunity that economy of US show it's evidence of decline,and Washington was afraid to see a strong EUR,and agree to attack Jugoslavia Union soon after the EUR started with US's help.

....

Bruce:I'm not familiar with these,so I can't answer your question myself.But there's newest commentary about this launching from this company,I'll translate it when time's free

[xker]

Hi,here's the new article,and...maybe I need to make it clearly that I'm not a democrat or adherent of force,I don't like to be duped,and articles from this company helped me

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[Eastern current affairs analyse,10/12/2005]
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At first,we appreciate people who are in the project of Chinese spaceflight.Thanks to their work,China can get his place of outer space technology which is veriest important to the security of China.

[the launching of Divine Vessel Six indicated the entirely startup of the second step of manned spaceflight plan of China]

As most people know,plan of manned spaceflight is make up of three steps,the first is launching unmanned and manned space ship,send cosmonaut to Low Earth Orbit safely,and let him back to earth safely.

The first step was finished after the first cosmonaut Yang Li Wei back to earth safely at 10/16/2003.

And the second step is breakthroughs of basic technology of manned spaceflight:multicosmonaut and multidays,manned outer space experimentation,cosmonauts walk out of cabin,accomplish linking space ship to Capsule.On base of these breakthroughs,launching short-term manned outer space lab,building a outer space engineering system with full equippment configure.

Apparently the launching of Divine Vessel Six indicated the entirely startup of the second step of manned spaceflight plan of China.

[China will raise a climax of "making use of outer space",but not only "making use of outer space pacifically"]

The third step is to found nonvolatile outer space lab,cosmonauts and scientists ferry between earth and space station,carry through larger scientific experimentations in outer space.After finishing the third step,Chinese cosmonaut and scientists's experimental activities will be regular and then found a solid base of "making use of outer space" and "developing wealth of outer space".

Please notice that what we want to emphasize is "making use of outer space" but not like premier Wen Jia Bao emphasized to international society at locale that the spaceflight technology of China is totally for "making use of outer space pacifically".

In fact,controversies of "pacifically" or "not toally pacifically" are all over the world along with the launching.

Next,let's read a kind of viewpoint,then we will give out our point of view.

[referenced news,pass over......]

Before comment on this news,we would say something else.At present,after China sent his cosmonauts to outer space,there are only two manned spacecrafts and four earthmen traveling in the outer space:a Russian and a American in "international space station" and to Chinese in Divine Vessel Six.

[actually,the list of nationalities is a roll call of qualification]

From our point of view,the list of nationalities in "international space station" and Divine Vessel Six,is actually a roll call of qualification that has the ability to launching manned spacecraft and carry through experimentations in outer space.

Apparently,look at the new concept of 'space army" through this fact,we could easyly raise a question:will there be a space armys race between the three large countries, China,USA and Russia who has the qualification?Will they build their space army which is used to fight in outer space competitivly?

["figure" and "core" of 'space army"]

At first,let's see what is 'space army".We think that the expert in the news has give out a exact definition to describe it's "figure" and "core",that is:it's "figure" is a new type of army differentiate from land army,navy and air force,it fights in the wide outer space;it's "core" is incarnated by "primary missions" it will take on:do battle in outer space,support battle of air,sea and land,and develop outer space,etc...

Through these,we can know that whether has 'space army" or not will be the key that determine whether a country can protect his advantage in the future or not.From our point of view,the great significance could compare with the role of strategic nuclear force on supporting a country's sacurity nowadays.

[from 'strategic angle of view" of two spuerpowers,why there is essential difference of having citybuster between China,UK and France? ]

Divine Vessel Six not only isn"t the first time China launching manned spaceflight,it's not the first time for earth village all the more.But just like after USA and USSR exploded their citybuster,the exploding of first citybuster of China still convulsed USA,USSR and international society greatly.From our point of view,China exploded citybuster with lower technology than USA and USSR,but still caused USA and USSR consider cooperating with each other to give Chinese nuclear base a surgical strike on one occasion,the reason is: from 'strategic angle of view" of two spuerpowers,there is essential difference of having citybuster between China who has a large territory,and UK and France who has a small territory.

["this kind of capital" is the precondition that Beijing can fully use his limited power of nuclear deterrent during cold war]

In other words,this "essential difference" is that China has the same capital to carry out a nuclear war as USA and USSR,and "this kind of capital" is why Mao Ze Dong dare to explode two atomic bombs ahead of schedule and show stance of "test during imminence of war" only with several atomic bombs in hand when USSR gave out his nuclear threat to China depend on his overpowering nuclear striking power and threaten that they are ready to press the nuclear button,then awed USSR successfully.

In addition,"this kind of capital" is also a precondition of China to make full use of his strategic nuclear deterrent with his wide territory and large numbers of population to change the world political situation.

[what the meaning of "atomic bomb,missile and satellite" to China,is belike a issue that need no controversy already]

From our viewpoint,although "atomic bomb,missile and satellite" develped in age of Mao Ze Dong were much laggard than USA and USSR both on technology and time,but fact of tens of years proved that the meaning of "has them or not" to security of China.,is belike a issue that need no controversy already.