> > At least they are noting they are sending a person on top of one of
> > their missiles this time.........who knows, they might have tried
> > earlier. Had it been a success we would have heard about it after the
> > fact, just announcing it beforehand is a big step for them. Now,
> > failure can be an embarassment.
>
> I was wondering...what kind of launch history do the Chinese have?
> ISTR a few satellites, but I'm not even sure of that. Basically, I'm
> just trying to get a feel for how big a leap forward this is for their
> program over their previous accomplishments.
The Chinese have succesfully flow the Shenzou/uprated Long March combo four times over the past four years. The capsule is based on proven Soyuz technology, although it appears to be slightly larger and more versatile than the Russian spacecraft.
They appear to be ready for this; at the very least, they are better prepared for it than the Americans and Soviets were four decades ago. Let's wish them well, as this could be the catalyst that spurs a new space race.
James ________________________
James Duffy snipped-for-privacy@mac.com