At 9:07 pm, Sept.25, the Shenzhou VII spacecraft was lifted off by the Long March II-F carrier rocket from China's northwestern Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, sending a trio of experienced taikonauts—the Chinese term for astronauts—into space. The launch of the Shenzhou VII is China's third manned space venture since October 2003, when it joined Russia and the United States as the only countries to have sent astronauts into space.
The Shenzhou VII space flight is not only considered a breakthrough in the number of astronauts, but hailed as a major step forward in China's aerospace technology. The three-day mission is expected to include the country's first attempt at a spacewalk.
The extra-vehicular activity will also include running tests in space, and taking samples from space. Following the extra-vehicular mission, a small satellite will be launched in the orbit to accompany the craft's journey, which is also China's first attempt. China's first relay satellite, Tianlian I, launched in the first half of the year, will be put into full practice during the Shenzhou VII space fight. The application of relay satellites may well in the future greatly boost the coverage and efficiency of China's monitoring networks.
The national space program is expected to aid China economically by helping to create technological breakthroughs that may some day be applied to computers or other digital equipment. But behind the glorious feats are the unprecedented challenges and risks. Spacewalk is a splendor, but full of risks, which will pose a challenge to anything related to space flight including the complicated and expensive space suit designed and produced in China. Additionally, the astronauts will have to overcome space motion sickness to accomplish the extra-vehicular mission within two days in the orbit. The craft in itself will also face the challenge from its maiden flight carrying the permitted crew number of a trio. Meanwhile, the launch of Shenzhou VII will act as a big test to China's environmental control and life security systems in space.
It takes intelligence as well as courage to make a large step forward in aerospace technology. But the prospects of China's manned space flight have so far proved promising. During the second phase, China plans further breakthroughs in manned space flight beyond spacewalks, such as the docking of the space modules. The ability to do with extra-vehicular activity is essential for China's long-term goals of assembling an orbiting station in the next decade and possibly making a visit to the moon.
Initiated in 1992, China's manned space flight is another milestone for a country that got a late start in space exploration, but now possesses the most advanced space projects and have accomplished splendid feats in its space programs. Over the 16 years, China has made a big jump in both quantity and quality in terms of manned space flight. The Shenzhou VII craft marks a new height to be scaled in the realm of China's aerospace technology, and its triumphant return will be remembered as the national pride.
By People's Daily Online
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