Chinese Spacecraft Launched

[egarrard]

China's Shenzhou 7 (http://english.people.com.cn/90002/95532/index.html) spacecraft carrying a 3-man crew lifted off today from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center and is now in Earth orbit. During the upcoming three-day mission, Chinese astronauts, called taikonauts, will launch a small satellite and conduct their country's first spacewalk. Shenzhou 7 and the body of the rocket that launched it will be visible to the naked eye as they orbit Earth.

Sighting report: Shortly after launch, Shenzhou 7 and its rocket passed over Wainuiomata, New Zealand, where Robert Holdsworth saw them. "They went just below Orion with only about a second or so between them." Both were about as bright as first magnitude stars, he says.

Check the Satellite Tracker (http://spaceweather.com/flybys/?PHPSESSID=ibs4ltgfg1f87d1i86nko23q64) for viewing times.

[efernandez_98]

China's Shenzhou 7 (http://english.people.com.cn/90002/95532/index.html) spacecraft carrying a 3-man crew lifted off today from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center and is now in Earth orbit. During the upcoming three-day mission, Chinese astronauts, called taikonauts, will launch a small satellite and conduct their country's first spacewalk. Shenzhou 7 and the body of the rocket that launched it will be visible to the naked eye as they orbit Earth.

Sighting report: Shortly after launch, Shenzhou 7 and its rocket passed over Wainuiomata, New Zealand, where Robert Holdsworth saw them. "They went just below Orion with only about a second or so between them." Both were about as bright as first magnitude stars, he says.

Check the Satellite Tracker (http://spaceweather.com/flybys/?PHPSESSID=ibs4ltgfg1f87d1i86nko23q64) for viewing times.

I'm glad to see that they're going into space.

[Tivon]

So when rocket parts land in my back yard.. will it say, "Made in China."? ;)

[efernandez_98]

So when rocket parts land in my back yard.. will it say, "Made in China."? ;)

Or Taiwan. I hope Honda starts making rocket ships. Then we can all commute to space.

[Tivon]

Well, they did their first space walk. I'm glad to see other nations can accomplish these goals. How long before we see a flag on the moon?

[efernandez_98]

Well, they did their first space walk. I'm glad to see other nations can accomplish these goals. How long before we see a flag on the moon?

Probably right before someone puts a Starbucks there.

[Tivon]

Probably right before someone puts a Starbucks there.

5$ for a cup of coffee... rocket fuel.. training ours.. should be about 1MIL per cup of coffee plus tax. :beer