China to send first female Taikonaut in to Space

Rhys Essien

Onwards and upwards for the Chinese.

They will blast off on Saturday.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-18455553

Ghost Train

Just saw launch there, looked good. They really are making quick progress

shizz

Anyone got a link to the launch?

Ghost Train

Saw it on cnn so this might work

http://www.cnn.com/video/data/3.0/video/world/2012/06/16/wr-china-space-launch.cnn/index.xml

shizz

That link just gave me a load of xml code.

shedweller

What are those panels on the side for? They are up near the top, under the crew module.
Edit: i think they are airbrakes to assist removal of the cowlings that surround the spacecraft itself. There are thrusters slightly above them too which are either for emergency escape or to aid the staging process.

shizz

Can you see the link that Ghost train posted?

Ghost Train

link worked on my phone, this should work i think on laptop

http://cnn.com/video/?/video/world/2012/06/16/wr-china-space-launch.cnn

12april1981

http://english.cntv.cn/01/index.shtml

This might work,also if you have sky Ch 510

shizz

Forgot to link this after I found it. Link

_AVALANCHE_

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2160213/We-lift-China-sends-woman-astronaut-orbit-ambitious-space-mission-yet.html

jkforde

unreal progress, although their rapid progress could be partially attributed to the past 50 years of western and Russian research & painful trials and errors but fair play nonetheless. no doubt but space is our next frontier and hopefully a non-partisan one once we as a species truly grow up! God Speed to the three Chinese!

Franticfrank

Good for the Chinese and well done to the female Taikonaut. Looks like they're really making progress. Some competition might speed up that first trip to Mars.

jkforde

http://www.newscientist.com/blogs/shortsharpscience/2012/06/chinas-orbital-rendezvous-best.html

anyone else think this piece from NewScientist science blog smacks of anxiety at China's success? NS needs an injection of some unbiased non-US editors methinks.

Franticfrank

Yes that article seems very biased. The X37 (which is quite interesting) and the Chinese success don't really have anything to do with each other. He compares the Chinese vehicle unfavourably with the ISS which is pretty ridiculous considering how new the Chinese are to the space scene.

savagecabbages

Just saw the ladning on tv there, seemed a pretty hard landing + tumble:eek:

Maybe im just used to watching the much softer impact water landings the US used carry out...

shizz

savagecabbages wrote: »

Just saw the ladning on tv there, seemed a pretty hard landing + tumble:eek:

Maybe im just used to watching the much softer impact water landings the US used carry out...

Got any links?

Cork boy 55

shizz wrote: »

Got any links?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5vOS2QhYftE

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-18636819

shizz

Holy sheeeet thats a heavy landing!!!

Cork boy 55

Why are we using the word Taikonaut and cosmonaut
the word is Astronaut?

When we describe a Hungarian Astronaut we don't say űrhajósai?

shizz

Cork boy 55 wrote: »

Why are we using the word Taikonaut and cosmonaut
the word is Astronaut?

When we describe a Hungarian Astronaut we don't say űrhajósai?

Well it depends on who you are referring to? Why should we use Astronaut and not Cosmonaut considering they both originated about the same time?

Ghost Train

savagecabbages wrote: »

Just saw the ladning on tv there, seemed a pretty hard landing + tumble:eek:

Maybe im just used to watching the much softer impact water landings the US used carry out...

they seem to fire boosters just before impact with the ground?

some mention of braking rocket here
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reentry_module

shizz

Just thought you guys would like to compare it to the Soyuz landing from today.

Franticfrank

At least nobody seemed injured after that landing. Still, I wouldn't have wanted to be inside it.