China starts first space station module

**Takeovers** · 29-09-2011, 09:47 PM

CCTV News

China has started its first space station module. The Tiangong I module is scheduled to remain in space for two years and will be the destinatin of further flights and modules to be docked.

It is an experimental module to gain experience for their permanent space station, to be launched before 2020.

**Takeovers** · 29-09-2011, 09:52 PM

There was extended coverage on the Chinese CCTV English News channel, but also at other news outlets worldwide.

The CCTV coverage included a montage of successive chinese launches. The oldest ones clearly Soviet technology including the space suits used by their astronauts. The latest launches however no longer soviet made but their own development.

Another aspect of chinese news coverage was the sequence of reports. First that extended space program coverange, directly followed by detailed coverage of that Shanghai train crash including reports of the malfunctioning signalling and including videos taken by passengers inside the train showing damage and blood on the floor.

Chinese news coverage gets more open it seems.

**StrontiumDog** · 29-09-2011, 10:18 PM

http://www.usatoday.com/tech/science...nch/50601506/1

China launches module for space station

By Christopher Bodeen, Associated Press

Updated 36m ago

BEIJING – China launched an experimental module to lay the groundwork for a future space station on Thursday, underscoring its ambitions to become a major space power.

STR, AFP/Getty Images
China's Long March 2F rocket carrying the Tiangong-1 module, or 'Heavenly Palace.'Enlarge

The box car-sized Tiangong-1 module was shot into space from the Jiuquan launch center on the edge of the Gobi Desert aboard a Long March 2FT1 rocket.

After moving it into orbit 217 miles above the Earth, China plans to launch an unmanned Shenzhou 8 spacecraft to practice remote-controlled docking maneuvers with the module, possibly within the next few weeks. Two more missions, at least one of them manned, are to meet up with it next year for further practice, with astronauts staying for up to one month.

The 8.5-ton module, whose name translates as "Heavenly Palace-1," is to stay aloft for two years, after which two other experimental modules are to be launched for additional tests before the actual station is launched in three sections between 2020 and 2022.

"This is a significant test. We've never done such a thing before," Lu Jinrong, the launch center's chief engineer, was quoted as saying by the official Xinhua News Agency.

The space station, which is yet to be formally named, is the most ambitious project in China's exploration of space, which also calls for landing on the moon, possibly with astronauts.

China launched its first manned flight in 2003, joining Russia and the United States as the only countries to launch humans into orbit and generating huge amounts of national pride for the Communist government.

However, habitual secrecy and the space program's close links with the military have inhibited cooperation with other nations' space programs — including the International Space Station.

At about 60 tons when completed, the Chinese station will be considerably smaller than the 16-nation ISS, which is expected to continue operating through 2028.

China applied repeatedly to join the ISS, but was rebuffed largely on objections from the U.S., prompting it to adopt a go-it-alone strategy.

While the program has proceeded with no apparent major problems, the launch of the Tiangong-1 module was delayed for one year for technical reasons, and then rescheduled again after a Long March 2C rocket similar to the Long March 2F failed to reach orbit in August. The incident with the rocket was investigated and problems were reportedly resolved.

Although experts see no explicit military function for the Chinese space station, the country's other space-based military programs, including the destruction of a defunct Chinese satellite with a rocket in 2007, have caused alarm overseas.

"It is a nation doing its own thing saying, 'OK, we can do what you did for our own country separate from cooperation, on Chinese terms,'" said Charles Vick, an expert on the Chinese space program with Globalsecurity.org, which tracks military and security news.

In terms of technology, the launch of the Tiangong-1 places China about where the U.S. was in the 1960s during the Gemini program. While it is planning fewer launches than the U.S. carried out, the Chinese program progresses farther than the U.S. did with each launch it undertakes, said Joan Johnson-Freese, a space expert at the U.S. Naval War College in Rhode Island.

"China has the advantage, 40-plus years later, of not having to start at the bottom of the learning curve on its human spaceflight program," Johnson-Freese said.

China's authoritarian, centralized political system also offers the advantage of freedom from political wrangles over funding and clearly defines the program's long-term goals within Soviet-style five-year plans.

Numerous challenges lie ahead, including the attempt to dock remotely — U.S. astronauts handled the maneuver from aboard their spacecraft. The Long March-5 rocket that is being prepared to launch the 20-ton modules for the actual space station also remains untested.

Still, Beijing is expected to press ahead whatever the difficulties as long as it continues to result in international prestige, domestic credibility, technological advancement, and economic spin-offs, Johnson-Freese and Vick said.

"Basically, they will get what they want regardless of how long or what it takes for the authoritarian state to accomplish the assigned tasks," Vick said.

**StrontiumDog** · 29-09-2011, 10:25 PM

Latest US and world news, sport and comment from the Guardian | guardiannews.com | US Network front | The Guardian

The Long March II-F rocket is transported to the launcher

Workers prepare the Long March II-F carrier rocket, which will launch the Shenzhou-8 unmanned spacecraft in November to join the other craft

People gather at a preview to look at the Long March II-F rocket, which will take the Tiangong-1 module into space

View of the rocket on a pad at the Jiuquan launch site

**StrontiumDog** · 29-09-2011, 10:29 PM

Launch video....recently upped to YouTube

**Neo** · 29-09-2011, 10:38 PM

Good news for astronauts, no more of those dehydrated space meals.
Every night will be Friday night now they've got their own chinky.

**nostromo** · 29-09-2011, 11:07 PM

Hope all the best for Chinese with this.

**The Bold Rodney** · 29-09-2011, 11:20 PM

Originally Posted by StrontiumDog

BEIJING – China launched an experimental module to lay the groundwork for a future space station on Thursday, underscoring its ambitions to become a major space power.

Can't possibly imagine where they "borrowed" the technology from?

**Takeovers** · 30-09-2011, 12:02 AM

Originally Posted by The Bold Rodney

Can't possibly imagine where they "borrowed" the technology from?

They started out with old soviet hardware. They certainly have learned from the space station design, as the US have learned from the MIR design, avoiding some major flaws in the MIR design.

But rocket and station module are clearly both their own chinese design as is their timetable. They are confident enough to state clearly what they are planning to do. Even todays start was not a surprise.

**The Bold Rodney** · 30-09-2011, 12:09 AM

Originally Posted by Takeovers

They started out with old soviet hardware. They certainly have learned from the space station design, as the US have learned from the MIR design, avoiding some major flaws in the MIR design.

But rocket and station module are clearly both their own chinese design as is their timetable. They are confident enough to state clearly what they are planning to do. Even todays start was not a surprise.

The Chinese were innovators in many thing's but certainly NOT space technology or computer technology.

Too long to explain in detail but as "arry" says in another quote...you're delusional if you believe anything different!

**Carrabow** · 30-09-2011, 12:39 AM

Maybe they need classes from the Japanese with Kai zen before they rely on their industry quality. Hopefully their Space program is not on-line with the mining safety record either.

**Takeovers** · 30-09-2011, 12:54 AM

Originally Posted by The Bold Rodney

The Chinese were innovators in many thing's but certainly NOT space technology or computer technology.

So what are they using? It is not russian technology. The russians have not designed anything new since soviet times and the chinese rockets are not that.

The european ESA don't have manned capabilities. So you believe the US has sold them those rockets and capsules?

**Carrabow** · 30-09-2011, 01:00 AM

I would say they are really good a copying stuff. I do not want to be a conspiracy freak but there is some evidence of them digging deep to get what they need.

**The Bold Rodney** · 30-09-2011, 01:02 AM

Originally Posted by Takeovers

So what are they using? It is not russian technology. The russians have not designed anything new since soviet times and the chinese rockets are not that.

The european ESA don't have manned capabilities. So you believe the US has sold them those rockets and capsules?

It's late here (probably not where you are) but with the greatest respect read my post again and try to understand what "borrowed coupled with

means).

Apart from my post...read about Chinese technology (not what they advertise i.e. number 69 fried lice:") then study what they've done over the last twenty or thirty years. Add to that the developments made in computer technology i.e. the Silicon Chip and the end of the Second World and we'll discuss this again.

Until that time I'm going to bed!

**nostromo** · 30-09-2011, 01:03 AM

Originally Posted by Takeovers

Originally Posted by The Bold Rodney

The Chinese were innovators in many thing's but certainly NOT space technology or computer technology.

So what are they using? It is not russian technology. The russians have not designed anything new since soviet times and the chinese rockets are not that.

The european ESA don't have manned capabilities. So you believe the US has sold them those rockets and capsules?

Chinese technology now is their own. Russian shit was too late and inadequate when design began. Years ago. Now today would you buy a fucking umbrella from russians...

**nostromo** · 30-09-2011, 01:18 AM

Originally Posted by Carrabow

I would say they are really good a copying stuff. I do not want to be a conspiracy freak but there is some evidence of them digging deep to get what they need.

Everyone is copying all the time. There was a British Empire, while controlling 25% of the world, but as well, manufacturing and business. Industrial revolution it is called. Later on the Germans come with a bit of USA aid, then Japanese. Now - let that be your excercise

**Carrabow** · 30-09-2011, 01:24 AM

Originally Posted by nostromo

Originally Posted by Carrabow

I would say they are really good a copying stuff. I do not want to be a conspiracy freak but there is some evidence of them digging deep to get what they need.

Everyone is copying all the time. There was a British Empire, while controlling 25% of the world, but as well, manufacturing and business. Industrial revolution it is called. Later on the Germans come with a bit of USA aid, then Japanese. Now - let that be your excercise

Thanks for the class, they still have a long way to go when it comes to quality.

**Takeovers** · 30-09-2011, 01:27 AM

Originally Posted by The Bold Rodney

It's late here (probably not where you are) but with the greatest respect read my post again and try to understand what "borrowed coupled with means).

They certainly did take a good look at US and ESA technologies. No doubt they got some data they were supposed not to have, call it espionage.

However they still had to do all the building, their own design, making the materials and building the rocket motors. And it seems they did it quite successfully.

As I said before, NASA took a very good look at MIR before designing the SpaceStation.

**Takeovers** · 30-09-2011, 01:32 AM

Originally Posted by Carrabow

Thanks for the class, they still have a long way to go when it comes to quality.

No doubt about that. But as they are quite open about their program it would be terribly difficult to hide failures.

**Carrabow** · 30-09-2011, 01:35 AM

Originally Posted by Takeovers

Originally Posted by The Bold Rodney

It's late here (probably not where you are) but with the greatest respect read my post again and try to understand what "borrowed coupled with means).

As I said before, NASA took a very good look at MIR before designing the SpaceStation.

Complete redesign with safety features that were totally forgotten by Rusky's

**nostromo** · 30-09-2011, 01:35 AM

Originally Posted by Carrabow

Originally Posted by nostromo

Originally Posted by Carrabow

I would say they are really good a copying stuff. I do not want to be a conspiracy freak but there is some evidence of them digging deep to get what they need.

Everyone is copying all the time. There was a British Empire, while controlling 25% of the world, but as well, manufacturing and business. Industrial revolution it is called. Later on the Germans come with a bit of USA aid, then Japanese. Now - let that be your excercise

Thanks for the class, they still have a long way to go when it comes to quality.

Your apple was manufactured in China. It says designed in California but is that just a...

**Carrabow** · 30-09-2011, 01:49 AM

Don't own one, have a few trees though

**Carrabow** · 30-09-2011, 01:53 AM

Originally Posted by Carrabow

Originally Posted by Takeovers

Originally Posted by The Bold Rodney

It's late here (probably not where you are) but with the greatest respect read my post again and try to understand what "borrowed coupled with means).

As I said before, NASA took a very good look at MIR before designing the SpaceStation.

Complete redesign with safety features that were totally forgotten by Rusky's

I need to re-cantor the statement, at least in countries like China and Russia it is a calculated risk and an honor to die in the name of exploration. For us it is a tragedy.

This allows them to advance quicker without an exuberant overhead.

**nostromo** · 30-09-2011, 02:06 AM

Originally Posted by Carrabow

Originally Posted by Takeovers

Originally Posted by The Bold Rodney

It's late here (probably not where you are) but with the greatest respect read my post again and try to understand what "borrowed coupled with means).

As I said before, NASA took a very good look at MIR before designing the SpaceStation.

Complete redesign with safety features that were totally forgotten by Rusky's

I need to re-cantor the statement, at least in countries like China and Russia it is a calculated risk and an honor to die in the name of exploration. For us it is a tragedy.

This allows them to advance quicker without an exuberant overhead.

China and russia have nothing in common. China designs and develops and exports goods. Russia does no such thing, it is just an oil field for friends, BP now exluded for not taking the shit any more

**English Noodles** · 30-09-2011, 02:09 AM

Originally Posted by The Bald Retard

Too long to explain in detail but

How convenient for you.

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