Chinese Rocket with 'Lifeform' Goes Into Space 17
jeffsenter writes "The BBC has coverage of China's launch of a rocket into space carrying a 'lifeform.' This is China's second rocket launch with an orbiter. China plans to launch a person into space in 18 months, making it only the third country to do so."
Time for countries not friendly w/ China to worry (Score:3)
Here is where the fun begins: The same technology to put a human into space is the same technology to launch a warhead and get it close enough to its target fairly reliably. (That's bad for the target)
Let's just hope... (Score:1)
Whatever it is, they plan to bring it back to analyze.
No details on whether that's a medical or an autopsy though.
Let's Hope The Lifeform is Not A Cat (Score:1)
1) Have you ever seen what a cat does when it gets in a car?
2) What if these lifeforms actually were our first contact with intelligent life from space?
Also, the Evil Chinese masterminds need something to stroke as they ponder their next threat to the world....
--
BBC's egocentrism showing. (Score:1)
Who says they're animals?
--
Lifeforms... (Score:2)
[singing] Lifeforms, you tiny little lifeforms,
you precious little lifeforms... Where are you?
Data, "Star Trek: Generations"
"Titanic was 3hr and 17min long. They could have lost 3hr and 17min from that."
"Lifeform"? Probably propaganda. (Score:3)
"Oh, just tell them we're sending up 'lifeforms'."
Re:Let's Hope The Lifeform is Not A Cat (Score:1)
Also, the Evil Chinese masterminds need something to stroke as they ponder their next threat to the world....
Mandatory off-colour remark omitted. =)
Re:China's Launches. (Score:1)
I doubt they would bother. It would already be known.
> And do you think the Americans hadn't been peering down from space all along, watching them put the rocket together and getting ready to launch it?
No, where did I suggest it? I am well aware of the "facts" in your reply. So would anyone with the intelligence of an Earthworm.
So, Jim, exactly what invalidates my comment? What is incorrect?
Re:Let's Hope The Lifeform is Not A Cat (Score:1)
It only freaks out if the cat's first experience with the car was a bad one, like going to the vet or something. Get a kitten who has never been in a car before, and bring it into a car, and it will just be curious.
Lifeforms? Dissidents? Mating Pandas? (Score:1)
This may sound like a joke, but I'm serious - we will have no idea as to who or what they really sent up in the capsules.
I suspect that they sent up animal specimens, but I wouldn't be surprised at sending humans in the capsule - it really wouldn't be any of our business. Personally, if I was single-minded enough, and was a spacecraft launching country, I'd be hot and bothered to send people up into space. I mean - that's what being in the military is all about right? Do what you have been ordered to do.
Although, the concept of finding out if zero-gee would increase the chances of Pandas mating gives me the giggles. I mean, they've tried everything else... Panda Marital Aids [go.com]
Re:Let's Hope The Lifeform is Not A Cat (Score:1)
--
Re:Let's just hope... (Score:1)
Although... (Score:2)
-A6
China's Launches. (Score:1)
There are only two countries, empires in all but name, that could afford a sustained space effort. America and China. When it was the USSR who leaped in front of America with Sputnik, America promptly "put a man on the moon". Once the race was won, America lost serious interest in space. The Chinese appear to be taking space seriously and putting in a long sustained (and apparently sucessful) effort. My guess is that there will soon be serious talk about American properties in space or a manned Mars mission.
Re:Let's Hope The Lifeform is Not A Cat (Score:1)
http://www.modelminority.com/about.htm
Re:Lifeforms? Dissidents? Mating Pandas? (Score:2)
Considering they didn't even tell us about their first mission until after it landed, it's not inconceivable that they have humans up there right now. If things go wrong, and they die, we won't hear about it
. If on the other hand they survive, China scores another propaganda point with "look how fast our space program is developing"
In the meantime, let's hope NASA can actually lauch the Destiny module - Friday's launch has been cancelled [space.com] due to fears of a "criticality one" failure ( read: Big Boom )
"A goldfish was his muse, eternally amused"
Re:China's Launches. (Score:1)
Do you really think the Chinese didn't call up the Americans and say "we're going to launch a rocket into space - it's not a nuclear strike, OK"?
And do you think the Americans hadn't been peering down from space all along, watching them put the rocket together and getting ready to launch it? No, they're watching! What colour is the flame? (tells what fuel it uses). How big are the engines? How fast does it go? What size is the capsule? (tells how much payload it can carry).
And that all-important question: What *is* the payload?
It's life Jim, but not as we know it!