2008 Woodie Awards
China Sends Man Into Space
Asia: China
Jenna Arvanaghi '10
Issue date: 10/2/08 Section: World
The year of the rat has been epic for China. With the Olympics being held in Beijing this past summer, Chinese people were able to show the world its artistic talent and historical past. It continues to shine. On Saturday, Sept. 27, a Chinese astronaut made history by performing the nation's first-ever spacewalk.
The mission began on Thursday. The Chinese Shenzhou-7 spacecraft blasted off of Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in Gansua Province on a three-day space mission carrying three Chinese astronauts on the country's third manned space mission in five years.
Mission commander Zhai Zhigang was broadcasted on live television in China as he floated out of the orbit module of the Shenzhou-7 spacecraft, lingering outside for approximately 13 minutes before climbing back inside.
Zhai even spoke during the spacewalk stating, "Shenzhiu-7 has left the module, physically feel very good. Greetings to all the people of the nation and all the people of the world."
His fellow astronaut, Liu Boming, accompanied him on this epic journey and handed Zhai a Chinese flag to wave in front of the camera.
This successful spacewalk is the first step in assembling a space station from two Shenzhou orbital modules, which is the one of the many goals of China's manned spaceflight program. Ultimately, they plan to land a man on the moon in the next decade.
The Chinese government is hoping to be able to set up a space station by 2020 in order to send a man to the moon. Billions of dollars have been spent over the years building up a space program that would profoundly advance the nation, bringing them up to speed with the United States and Russia.
Russia and the United States conducted their first spacewalks in 1965, while the United States became the first country to put a person on the moon in 1969.
An elaborate ceremony was held before the launching in western China, where the three astronauts, Jing Haipeng, Liu Boming, and Zhai Zhigang waved their final goodbyes to the cheering crowd before going on this ambitious journey. President Hu Jintao praised the space project at the ceremony, exclaiming to the astronauts, "You will definitely accomplish this glorious and sacred mission. The motherland and the people are looking forward to your triumphant return," according to The Associated Press.
The mission began on Thursday. The Chinese Shenzhou-7 spacecraft blasted off of Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in Gansua Province on a three-day space mission carrying three Chinese astronauts on the country's third manned space mission in five years.
Mission commander Zhai Zhigang was broadcasted on live television in China as he floated out of the orbit module of the Shenzhou-7 spacecraft, lingering outside for approximately 13 minutes before climbing back inside.
Zhai even spoke during the spacewalk stating, "Shenzhiu-7 has left the module, physically feel very good. Greetings to all the people of the nation and all the people of the world."
His fellow astronaut, Liu Boming, accompanied him on this epic journey and handed Zhai a Chinese flag to wave in front of the camera.
This successful spacewalk is the first step in assembling a space station from two Shenzhou orbital modules, which is the one of the many goals of China's manned spaceflight program. Ultimately, they plan to land a man on the moon in the next decade.
The Chinese government is hoping to be able to set up a space station by 2020 in order to send a man to the moon. Billions of dollars have been spent over the years building up a space program that would profoundly advance the nation, bringing them up to speed with the United States and Russia.
Russia and the United States conducted their first spacewalks in 1965, while the United States became the first country to put a person on the moon in 1969.
An elaborate ceremony was held before the launching in western China, where the three astronauts, Jing Haipeng, Liu Boming, and Zhai Zhigang waved their final goodbyes to the cheering crowd before going on this ambitious journey. President Hu Jintao praised the space project at the ceremony, exclaiming to the astronauts, "You will definitely accomplish this glorious and sacred mission. The motherland and the people are looking forward to your triumphant return," according to The Associated Press.
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