China completes Human Spaceflight

[Steve Bildermann]

http://www.space.com/businesstechnology/technology/shenzhou_tech_030924.html

After four unmanned trial flights, China's first-ever piloted spacecraft, the Shenzhou 5 is set to soar. When it does, and if triumphant, China will be propelled into an exclusive country club status: The third nation capable of independently rocketing humans into Earth orbit.

Although tight-lipped on a range of technical details, Chinese space officials have hinted at a multi-pronged human spaceflight program, including space station construction, as well as eventual travel to the Moon, all by 2020.

China Launches Third Shenzhou

[AssKissinger]

Right on! Good for them! I wouldn't be surprised if China is first on MARS thread link

[Greener]

I'd rather see China have Human Rights first, before a first human space flight. I'd sooner see the Nazis get to Mars first then them.

[Crispy]

I'm all for it. If they are doing things to attract world attract world attention, that more attention will be paid to their human rights abuses, which will cause change. What we don't need is for them to be quietly muttering to themselves.

[Greener]

What they need is to be pushed around. The entire world fears China at present and their government are a bunch of arrogant, cowardly bullies. Simply put they shouldn't recieve anything from anywhere in the world until the people are allowed to be free. If they even so much as point their weapons at Taiwan again they should be taken out the way Iraq was.

Their government is as oppressive as Hitler and Stalin were and shouldn't be allowed anything, especially our respect or even our fear.

[Caustic Saint]

I'd rather see China have Human Rights first, before a first human space flight. I'd sooner see the Nazis get to Mars first then them.

I don't think the "nazis" (whoever they are these days) have the same budget to work with that China does.

[Greener]

Both the Chinese government and Nazi Germany were and are murderous, oppressive regimes. This disqualifies any and ALL achievements they may have.

China's Furor, err, President thinks he is some sort of a god when all he really is, is a spoiled child with military might. China's people will not be able to enjoy any accomplishments it's country makes because their dictator takes full credit and the people are still treated like they are all expendable there.

China deserves no credit or respect until their people are free, period.

[Big Booger]

We need a united space program.. there is no way we are ever going to go anywhere all by ourselves. We need to unite and compile our resources to do space exploration, much like they are doing on the international space station.

I applaud their efforts but I agree with greenery... they need to clean up human rights and freedoms... before launching a man into space.

[NeoNecroNomiCron]

[Alcazar]

I think this manned space flight (only the 3rd nation to ever do so) next week will be a big psychological shock to the world. I first knew the Chinese were getting ready 2 years ago, but the time is here.

The Chinese have been very aggressively building their space program and their military budget, which is linked to the space program. China is racing the US to weaponise space-it is crucial the Chinese do not get ahead of a complacent USA. China's rapidly growing military budget is 3x what they officially state it is.

From a conservative point of view, I think this space flight is a positive in that it will provide a psychological shock to a complacent, smug and 'too comfortable' Western world that takes its safety and security for granted. I hope this scares people around the world out of their un-realistic comfort zone.

[ramchop]

We need a united space program.. there is no way we are ever going to go anywhere all by ourselves. We need to unite and compile our resources to do space exploration, much like they are doing on the international space station.

Not sure I agree with that. It wasn't a united effort that got man to the moon.

If China stuck its tongue out at the US and boldly claimed it'd be the first to reach Mars, then I think that'd get man there faster than any united effort.

[cstaylor]

If China stuck its tongue out at the US and boldly claimed it'd be the first to reach Mars, then I think that'd get man there faster than any united effort.

You realize that there's a huge difference between a short hop to the Moon and a long, two-year trip (one way!) to Mars. I will bet $100 (I'm not a big gambling man) that no human will set foot on Mars and return to tell about it in my lifetime.

[Steve Bildermann]

no human will set foot on Mars and return to tell about it in my lifetime.

Ah but if you make it to 2030 you can be there when Zefram Cochrane is born.

Zefram Cochrane, who invented the warp drive in 2063, allowing man to travel faster-than-light was born in 2030 and disappeared from Alpha Centauri in 2117 and was presumed dead.

The Third World War lasted for ten years and 600 million people perished in the nuclear disaster. In 2053 an uneasy truce was signed. Around this time Zefram Cochrane began his construction of the first warp capable vessel of humanity, the Phoenix.

On April 5, 2063 at 11:15 Cochrane made humanity's first warp flight. His warp signatures were detected by a Vulcan survey ship which landed in the evening and made first contact with humanity. Development of warp technology was the Vulcan's prerequisite for "first contact" with a civilization, a practice that continues through to the present continuity of the United Federation of Planets.

[cstaylor]

"There's a statue, right over there, twenty-feet tall, with your hands outstretched, reaching for the stars..."

[ramchop]

I will bet $100 (I'm not a big gambling man) that no human will set foot on Mars and return to tell about it in my lifetime.

OK, I'm an optimist, I'll take you up on that.

If I were to lose, who should I pay (you'll be dead remember), and how much in real terms will $100 be worth?

[cstaylor]

If I were to lose, who should I pay (you'll be dead remember), and how much in real terms will $100 be worth?

If I win, you won't have to worry about it.

[AssKissinger]

If they even so much as point their weapons at Taiwan again they should be taken out the way Iraq was.

I know Necro already called you on this but seriously. You deserved to get laughed at for that one. Take China out? We (I'm American) haven't even fully defeated the Taliban and you're ready to take on China. I hope you're not American but something tells me you are. If you are, please don't vote.

By the way, the days of Mao are over. China obviously isn't the most democratic and free place in the world but comparing modern day China to Stalin's Russia or Nazi Germany is very exaggerated. Foreigners are living all over Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong making cash, getting laid and having a good time. Sure China has human rights abuses. Guess what? So does America.

Look, if America was smart we'd try harder to buddy-up with all the big boys, China, Russia and India. We're already at odds with basically the entire Islamic world. Is that not trouble enough? We should hassle China, too? China won't be 'taken out' but if America continues to alienate and piss-off the rest of the world we will be. India has problems with Muslims. What does America do? Give BILLIONS in military aid to fucking Pakistan. It doesn't make any Goddamn sense. India is a big bad daddy with a middle class the size of America's entire population. America needs help in case you haven't noticed. China is the country of the 21st century. I hope they take the lead on North Korea. On that issue, America should pass the ball to them. Put China in the limelight. We need to get the world's attention off us before it kills us.

[cstaylor]

India has problems with Muslims. What does America do? Give BILLIONS in military aid to fucking Pakistan. It doesn't make any Goddamn sense. India is a big bad daddy with a middle class the size of America's entire population.

According to an Indian friend of mine, this goes back to the Cold War, where Pakistan was a client/part-time ally of the United States, and India purchased weapon systems from the U.S.S.R. It will take years for the system to flush out all of the die-hards from decision-making positions in both governments.

[Alcazar]

:rofl:

If they even so much as point their weapons at Taiwan again they should be taken out the way Iraq was.

I know Necro already called you on this but seriously. You deserved to get laughed at for that one. Take China out? We (I'm American) haven't even fully defeated the Taliban and you're ready to take on China. I hope you're not American but something tells me you are. If you are, please don't vote.

I am sure he was refering to the Chinese military-the US could and should fight and defeat the Chinese navy and airforce should they try to take democratic Taiwan. It is not about conquering China, nobody wants to do that, but about stopping China's regional ambitions which are detrimental to the rest of the world (especially Japan and the US).

Look, if America was smart we'd try harder to buddy-up with all the big boys, China, Russia and India.

Thats not the way the world works exactly, but partnership is a good sentiment. The US has greatly warmed relations with Russia and especially India over the last 2-3 years. China is a strategic competitor, no matter what the rhetoric. India and Russia are helping the US fight the Muslims and vica versa.

India has problems with Muslims. What does America do? Give BILLIONS in military aid to fucking Pakistan. It doesn't make any Goddamn sense.

Don't worry about that. The US is assisting India by making sure they get the latest weapons systems from the US and Israel. The US is also giving a lot of military advice and training to India.

cstaylor is right about the Cold War connection historically. India had a socialist bent and bought from the USSR as taylor said. They still do buy a lot from Russia-cheap and decent weapons, not the best though.

The issue about giving aid to Pakistan is about keeping Pakistan afloat. The regime in Pakistan is giving the US some assistance against Al Qaeda. The Pakistani government is also hanging by a thread. The Islamist parties in Pakistan are making big gains and are threatening to take over, either at the ballot box, or in a coup. That would be a disaster. Pakistan's society is one of the world's most insane, medieval, bloodthirsty, anti-Western, bomb-strapping populations on the planet. If the marginally helpful Pakistani government fell, the crazies would take over. Crazies with nuclear weapons and an agenda. So that is what all the aid is for. Probably just buying time really though.

[AssKissinger]

the US could and should fight and defeat the Chinese navy and airforce should they try to take democratic Taiwan

You live in Australia so I'll assume you're Australian. How do you like this idea? "Australia... should fight ...the Chinese navy and airforce".

If America gets into a direct military confrontation with China there's a good chance there will be nothing but a big mushroom cloud where my family now lives. War with China is insane and suicidal. It's so crazy I can't even believe it's being debated as an option, even if only on Fucked Gaijin. Could someone back me up here?

Pakistan's society is one of the world's most insane, medieval, bloodthirsty, anti-Western, bomb-strapping populations on the planet. If the marginally helpful Pakistani government fell, the crazies would take over. Crazies with nuclear weapons and an agenda. So that is what all the aid is for. Probably just buying time really though

That, however, is a fair point.

[Alcazar]

You live in Australia so I'll assume you're Australian. How do you like this idea? "Australia... should fight ...the Chinese navy and airforce".

The Australian navy is closely aligned with the US navy, so yes, Australia would also be fighting the Chinese, along with the US, Taiwan, South Korea, Japan, Canada, and other 'friendlies' in the region/world. Australia needs to spend more on defense, but we have some really deadly submarines. We 'sunk' some American submarines and a carrier in recent naval exercises. So America wouldn't be by itself.

If America gets into a direct military confrontation with China there's a good chance there will be nothing but a big mushroom cloud where my family now lives. War with China is insane and suicidal.

No, it wouldn't be nuclear. Both nations want to avoid that. Superpowers can fight conventional wars against each other without resorting to nuclear weapons. It would be a major air and sea conflict. It would not be a drawn out affair, over in a matter of days or weeks.

Besides, war with China does sound insane, but the Chinese are certainly preparing for potential war against the US in the Pacific and the US is preparing for conflict with China. Let's hope that political change happens within China though to stop this ever happening.

[Greener]

The Chinese government, err, Nazis have a nasty tendancy to point and shoot their guns at foreigners who even think of questioning their rule in any way, shape or form.

Their military is grossely overrated the same way Russia's was. They are looking for war as we speak just as much as North Korea is. Any friendship with them would be slapping the badly oppressed citizens of China in the face.

You can make money in Red China but you sure as hell can't take it home with you. I have 2 friends who taught English there who can certainly vouch for that.

Any nation that forces their people to kill their babies or face execution is an evil country that I have no respect for whatsoever. Even Hitler wasn't that bad.

Any and all authority figures in China are cowardly bullies as they showed during their Olympic bid for 2008. Their entire manner and how they made their presentations was "give us the games or else". I dispise people like that. The 2008 Olympics will be like Berlin in 1936 with the only difference this time being that American media types with balls will be shot on sight.

If China was serious about change they would A) let Taiwan be and B) disarm and bring legitimate charters of rights, freedoms and a real democracy. Until then nothing they have or will ever do counts.

P.S. Any nation that treats their people as horribly as Red China's government will never be a better run country.

[Big Booger]

We need a united space program.. there is no way we are ever going to go anywhere all by ourselves. We need to unite and compile our resources to do space exploration, much like they are doing on the international space station.

Not sure I agree with that. It wasn't a united effort that got man to the moon.

If China stuck its tongue out at the US and boldly claimed it'd be the first to reach Mars, then I think that'd get man there faster than any united effort.

You think the US did it with US powered brains? LMAO.. you are mistaken .... And it is one thing to go to the moon, it is another all together to go to MARS, or beyond.. the costs skyrocket.. and not only costs but the innovation has to be improved..

Look how quickly the international space station is compared to the race to the moon..

I think competition is healthy at first.. but for a serious task like going to MARS, I think cooperation is going to be the key factor.. the question is where is our motivation to go??? When we are fighting over bullshit like oil and land.. so sad.

Steve, are you a hidden or closet Trekkie?

[Kanchou]

Wow... That spacecraft is so horribly outdated in a way only communists can design things...

Something tells me China is going to start building Gundam-esque space colonies to send all their excess population and first-born baby girls to.

Except they'll be 100 times crappier.

[cliffy]

Steve, are you a hidden or closet Trekkie?

As Steve has stated in many prior posts that he is a certified LOONY, I took it as a given he is a Python quoting Trekkie

[Taro Toporific]

Something tells me China is going to start building Gundam-esque space colonies to send all their excess population and first-born baby girls to.

Except they'll be 100 times crappier.

Via
http://www.steveconley.com/comicads.htm

[Taro Toporific]

Via
http://www.steveconley.com/comicads.htm



double post AGAIN

[Taro Toporific]

Hey China going into space is strange, but how about Nigeria (419 SPAMflight?) launching their first satellite....

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/talking_point/3130390.stm

[AssKissinger]

Hey China going into space is strange, but how about Nigeria (419 SPAMflight?) launching their first satellite....

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/talking_point/3130390.stm

Maybe they could have the first woman stoned to death by moon rocks.

[Caustic Saint]

And now that their space program has caught up with the US (minus 25 years), let's hope they go to work on their music industry next.

I have no words for this one.