Chinese Space Program prepares men for launch
Matt Webber
Issue date: 9/10/08 Section: News
The Chinese Space Program will launch its third manned spaceflight this month.
The mission, called "Shenzhou VII," will be launched in late September, instead of late October as originally planned.
The trip will carry three men into space, where they will orbit the earth for about four days.
During the mission, one of the astronauts (called taikonauts) will perform China's first "space walk" outside of the shuttle to perform repairs.
The mission is the seventh phase in the Shenzhou (Divine Vessel) series of both manned and unmanned space flights.
This program began in 1999 and each of the seven launches have involved the same space shuttle.
The first Chinese man in space, Yang Liwei, was sent on Oct. 15, 2003 and returned successfully as a national hero.
The program has cost the Chinese Government about $2.5 billion.
This Shenzhou missions is an important part in China's rapidly growing space program.
The Chinese Space Program is also in the process of putting a man on the moon.
On October 24, 2007, China successfully launched a new satellite as the first step of many to perform the first Chinese moon walk.
Currently, a Chinese satellite is orbiting and taking pictures of the moon. The satellite is finding the best place for a lunar landing.
The second phase of the Chinese moon landing program, which is in progress now, is a lunar rover landing planned for 2012.
This will be followed by a man on the moon in 2018 and plans to reach Mars by 2030.
This rapid growth of the Chinese Space Program has captured the world's attention, particularly that of the United States.
The United States' Security Council is skeptical of Chinese President Hu Jintao's recent promise that "China will only be in space for peaceful reasons."
Militarily space is the place with the most potential to gain an advantage.
The United States has used satellite intelligence for military purposes since before the Gulf War in 1991.
According to Ken Lieberthal, a member of the US National Security Council, "They [China] recognize that in the U.S. military, space is essential for our current military strategy."
The mission, called "Shenzhou VII," will be launched in late September, instead of late October as originally planned.
The trip will carry three men into space, where they will orbit the earth for about four days.
During the mission, one of the astronauts (called taikonauts) will perform China's first "space walk" outside of the shuttle to perform repairs.
The mission is the seventh phase in the Shenzhou (Divine Vessel) series of both manned and unmanned space flights.
This program began in 1999 and each of the seven launches have involved the same space shuttle.
The first Chinese man in space, Yang Liwei, was sent on Oct. 15, 2003 and returned successfully as a national hero.
The program has cost the Chinese Government about $2.5 billion.
This Shenzhou missions is an important part in China's rapidly growing space program.
The Chinese Space Program is also in the process of putting a man on the moon.
On October 24, 2007, China successfully launched a new satellite as the first step of many to perform the first Chinese moon walk.
Currently, a Chinese satellite is orbiting and taking pictures of the moon. The satellite is finding the best place for a lunar landing.
The second phase of the Chinese moon landing program, which is in progress now, is a lunar rover landing planned for 2012.
This will be followed by a man on the moon in 2018 and plans to reach Mars by 2030.
This rapid growth of the Chinese Space Program has captured the world's attention, particularly that of the United States.
The United States' Security Council is skeptical of Chinese President Hu Jintao's recent promise that "China will only be in space for peaceful reasons."
Militarily space is the place with the most potential to gain an advantage.
The United States has used satellite intelligence for military purposes since before the Gulf War in 1991.
According to Ken Lieberthal, a member of the US National Security Council, "They [China] recognize that in the U.S. military, space is essential for our current military strategy."
Be the first to comment on this story