Chinese Crew Completes Manual Docking With Orbiting Module 119
A few days back, the crew of the Shenzhou 9 were along for the ride as their craft docked to — or rather, was docked to — an orbiting module. On Sunday, the docking procedure was repeated, but under the direction of the Chinese astronauts themselves rather than controllers on the ground.
Re:Congradulations China (Score:5, Interesting)
I have to agree with AC's sentiments. "Even the Russians"? WTF? Let me just ask - how many nations, corPorations, and other entities have gone into sPace? How many have docked with anything? How many have made a landing, from which PeoPle walked away, alive and well?
It seems that the list makes uP a rather small, exclusive club.
So, just congratulate the Chinese. I like to bash them when it's deserved. Start a thread on consumer goods, and I'll start the bashing for you. They sell a lot of substandard shit that isn't worth the effort of carrying home if it were given to you. In this case, they've done good. Better than the US can do. We don't even have a frigging sPacecraft anymore. We are reduced to bumming rides from PeoPle who can afford transPortation.
Doesn't that remind you of your high school and/or college days?
Is there some special about a manual docking? (Score:5, Interesting)
Supposedly this is an advancement on an automated docking. Can someone fill me in or is this just media spin?
Congratulations on a successful expedition (Score:5, Interesting)
Competition is good, and it looks like the Chinese are proving very competitive in the space race. I'm sure there will be those who claim they "stole" the technology, but regardless of how they acquired the ideas, it's still the Chinese people and industry who are making it work. And as we all know from the failed launches of other nations, even having access to an internet full of historical designs and ideas doesn't make space technology work.
Only solid efforts and tenacity do that.
Re:Congratulations on a successful expedition (Score:2, Interesting)
Absolutely correct. The Chinese deserve congratulations and well-wishes. What they've done is momentous. ANYthing that gets ANYone into space is good -- in the long run, we're all human and we need to get off this rock!
Nice Job China (Score:5, Interesting)
Having grown up on the Florida space coast watching Saturn V's and Space Shuttles since I was 6 - I can see the pride and excitement in the faces of the astronauts and spectators and I remember what that felt like. It's hard for me to not be a little envious. Have we "advanced" now that Obama Administration killed our manned space program (after promising not to BTW) ? I don't know.... Despite the great success of SpaceX I am skeptical that commercialized space will ever make enough money to survive without government subsidies, only time will tell. But congrats to China for a job well done, enjoy it while you can !
Normal to wear spacesuits inside? (Score:4, Interesting)
Liu Wang took charge of the operation, while Liu Yang conducted aerospace experiments
... and Jing Haipeng was heard singing "Louie, Louie" in the background.
Re:Is there some special about a manual docking? (Score:5, Interesting)
So basically, due to an IP dispute, Russia developed a much inferior system and this resulted in an accident.
Citation: http://www.answers.com/topic/kurs-docking-system [answers.com]
Re:Bravery (Score:4, Interesting)
How many people do you know who would be willing to go into space in a craft with a "Made in China" sticker on the side?
More than would be willing to go into space in a craft with a "Made in America" sticker on the side. I mean, have you seen American cars? Imagine what it would be like if they ever tried to make a spacecraft!