Chinese takeout just took on a whole new meaning...

[Space Tycoon]

First Chinese spacewalk (http://www.space.com/missionlaunches/080927-spacewalk-wrap.html)

I just hope we never see the first Chinese Fire Drill in space! :eek:








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[tstone]

Good on them. The more players in space, the better.

[sickness]

Oh, come on, Spacey! They can have a little humor about it!

[Space Tycoon]

Ha ha velly funny! Me rikey rikey!

No MSG....






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[Space Tycoon]

Sorry, that was uncalled-for.

Anyway, the interesting thing about the Shenzou is that it is the first in a series of launches towards building a Chinese Space Station.

Cool!



http://img146.imageshack.us/img146/1158/chistat2by5.jpg







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[Space Tycoon]

Well, they're back. (http://www.space.com/missionlaunches/080928-shenzhou-landing-wrap.html)

And it looks like it's Miller Time! Or Tsingtao time, more accurately.



http://a52.g.akamaitech.net/f/52/827/1d/www.space.com/images/080928-shenzhou7-lnd-02.jpg






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[sickness]

And no chair for that third mofo??

Oh, and given China's accuracy in reporting in their media, I wouldn't be shocked if we found out that picture was taken a month ago.

[Space Tycoon]

Ha ha, well who knows. They're opening up their society more and more each year, maybe it's exactly as the photo suggests.

They're aiming for the Moon as well. And beyond that, who knows?

I don't fell threatened by it, because, as ole' T-Bone stated, a little competition is a good thing. :cool:






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[tstone]

Competition. Also, the burden of resources expended to expand upon the final frontier is spread out, rather than carried on the shoulders of one country.

[JarrodSarafin]

As said in the past, totally agree here with you and Spacey, T. Competition will help move space exploration much faster than it was previously going, which is one of my biggest pet peeves with our current status.

I also like the idea of private firms joining (even if it means we could end up with some Weyland-Utani scenario).

It's all about bragging rights. If China wants to get to a space rock a million miles away to possibly mine (financial reasons) and to plant their flag, Russia, USA and someone will else will try to get there sooner to plant their own flags first.

Imagine someone like Virgin Galactic reaching Mars first? That would really piss off Russia, USA, China and the rest of the big space boys.

Competition...Chop, chop people. Get your butts into space already.

[omicron]

Looks like everyone's getting in on the space boom.

http://blog.wired.com/wiredscience/2008/09/space-x-did-it.html

[Space Tycoon]

That's awesome! Between Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, Paul Allen and John Carmack, it seems like the people who benefitted from the 90's tech boom are all headed into space.

Add to that Richard Branson, Robert Bigelow and Jim Benson and you're going to see a lot of space tycoons rising in the years ahead.






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