|
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
#1
|
|||
|
|||
China plans station in space for the Great Leap Skyward
THE TIMES October 17, 2003 China plans station in space for the Great Leap Skyward ------------------------------------------------------- By Oliver August As China's first man in space returned to cheering crowds yesterday, Beijing announced plans for a permanent space laboratory manned by Chinese scientists in competition with the US-Russian station. "The maiden manned spaceflight is the first step of China's space programme," said Xie Mingbao, a leading engineer. The next stage would be a space station, he said. The announcement hints at the country's growing confidence following the successful launch of the Shenzhou 5, which has triggered feverish interest across China. "Great Leap Skyward," the China Daily newspaper enthused. /...snip.../ Despite its many plans for further space exploration, China has ruled out building an American-style space shuttle. It also disputed foreign estimates of the cost involved in building and launching the craft, claiming the price tag was a mere £1.5 billion. Western analysts have suggested the 11-year programme will so far have cost China close to £13 billion. Mr Xie said 60 per cent of China's budget was spent on "consumable equipment" such as rocket boosters, while 40 per cent paid for control centres and other "technology infrastructure that can be used on future missions". But despite talk of a permanent space laboratory China has no plans to rush back to the cosmos. Space officials said the next manned flight was a year or two away. On the list for future flights are spacewalks and exercises in docking two spacecraft. |
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
National Space Policy: NSDD-42 (issued on July 4th, 1982) | Stuf4 | Space Shuttle | 150 | July 28th 04 07:30 AM |
Unofficial Space Shuttle Launch Guide | Steven S. Pietrobon | Space Shuttle | 0 | April 2nd 04 12:01 AM |
Unofficial Space Shuttle Launch Guide | Steven S. Pietrobon | Space Shuttle | 0 | February 2nd 04 03:33 AM |
International Space Station Marks Five Years In Orbit | Ron Baalke | Space Shuttle | 2 | November 20th 03 03:09 PM |
Unofficial Space Shuttle Launch Guide | Steven S. Pietrobon | Space Shuttle | 0 | September 12th 03 01:37 AM |