Chinese astronaut carries out historic spacewalk

Sunday 28th September, 05:15 AM JST

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OssanULTRA at 01:47 PM JST - 28th September

BDF. Been there done that. I'd like to congratulate the Chinese people but the ones who accomplished this are the Chines govt. The Chinese people need better healthcare and safety and quality control over foodstuffs. Walking in space isn't going to solve these problems.
YangYong at 06:14 PM JST - 28th September

How symbolic yesterday that Chinese astronauts take a spacewalk while the US Treasury Secretary is on his knees. All it takes is time.
Pukey2 at 06:30 PM JST - 28th September

Congratulations to the Chinese for duplicating a feat first achieved by the Russians 43 years ago.

Yes, a feat which has not been duplicated by the vast majority of the other nations. A few have hitched rides, but very few have managed on their own.
Sarge at 06:58 PM JST - 28th September

"How symbolic yesterday that Chinese astronauts take a spacewalk while the US Treasury Secretary is on his knees"

The fact remains, however, YangYong, that most Chinese remain dirt-poor, whereas most Americans have at least one car and three TV sets.
tclh at 07:38 PM JST - 28th September

Man in space? Great, congratulations... now get back to Earth and fix the problems of milk, fruits, soy sauce , grains ,fish ,water ,air..etc please.
YangYong at 08:04 PM JST - 28th September

most Americans have at least one car and three TV sets.

...not for long son, and what kind of measurement is that, a material wealth index, so what? Stop choking on the pretzles and give some kudos to the third nation to have humans walk in space.
YangYong at 08:04 PM JST - 28th September

most Americans have at least one car and three TV sets.

...not for long son, and what kind of measurement is that, a material wealth index, so what? Give some kudos to the third nation to have humans walk in space.

Moderator: Stay on topic please.
mushroomcloud at 09:00 PM JST - 28th September

"Its easy to catch up to the tech that is out there because its allot cheaper and much easier to use tech created by others and modify it to your use...."

Which makes it all the harder to swallow that Japan can't accomplish the same feat, not now nor in the near future.
cleo at 10:40 PM JST - 28th September

most Chinese remain dirt-poor, whereas most Americans have at least one car and three TV sets.

While there's a lot to be said for a decent public transport system and actually getting a life instead of being glued to the Box (one per person), Sarge definitely has a point; spending gadzillions of money on a space walk when most of the people paying for it are dirt-poor, living in a polluted hell-hole and eating rubbish, is not something to be proud of.
rjd_jr at 11:48 PM JST - 28th September

While some measure of acknowledgement for this accomplishment is in order (sending humans into space is no small feat even decades after it was first done, it is still a risky and time consuming endeavor), I don't see why there has to be any form of 'congraulation' given for this spacewalk.

Nothing against the wonderful people of China, but some are absolutely correct, a spacewalk means little when many of the citizens of a country are treated with little to no respect for human rights or other issues. Not only that, but the government of China has a rather poor record of assisting other nations in need. In particular its record on the war on terror is abysmal, and unlike Japan, has done absolutely nothing to help with Iraq or Afghanistan (let's see how some spin that one here).

So do not be offended or upset when many are rather luke warm about this spacewalk, when it rings so hollow compared to other actions (and inactions) of the country.
yosun at 12:42 AM JST - 29th September

" Nippon5: Creating the mold is the hard part.. Making copies of others work is easy... "

Absolutely right then could you pls check out who originally invented dynamite (original throw ability ) and compass (original direction ability). it's only 2~300 years since western science took lead and it's because Chinese slept too long and communism (also from the West) system that delay chinese recovery.
mushroomcloud at 03:08 AM JST - 29th September

I agree with some posters here in that China needs to concentrate on doing more for it's people in regards to healthcare, pollution control, etc. But by doing so, China should stop purchasing the gadzillions of US securities, which include Treasury debt, US agency debt, US corporate debt and US equities, which in turn finances the war in both Iraq and Afghanistan (so much for doing nothing in America's war on terror), and instead better invest that money in providing for the Chinese people, instead of getting Americans fatter. And I quote: "A Congressional Research Service report in January said China may be holding nearly 700 billion dollars in US securities as of June 2006"

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20080925/bsafp/unusfinancechina080925015918

Makes a few billion that China spends on her space program sound like chump change, compared to what she loans to the US, you think?
CavemanLawyer at 04:19 PM JST - 29th September

Sarge definitely has a point; spending gadzillions of money on a space walk when most of the people paying for it are dirt-poor, living in a polluted hell-hole and eating rubbish, is not something to be proud of.

So now they have something to be proud of. Before people can lift themselves up by the boot straps, it is necessary to lift their spirits.

So if they did not spend gadzillions on this, what should they spend the money on? Its a darn good question. I suppose they could buy a lot of food, but to what end? People will be hungry again once the money runs out.

People need to be employed. A space program might not be the most efficient way to do that, but it is one way. And it is bound to boost Chinese pride and hopes, and that is important.

Creating the mold is the hard part.. Making copies of others work is easy...

If they give you that mold. I am afraid that NASA is not passing it around. The Chinese had to do most things from scratch.

A few have hitched rides, but very few have managed on their own.

A common misconception. Nobody has done it on their own, not even America. America and Russia were both heavily dependent on German scientists as well as those of other nations.

But I am not sure how independent the Chinese program is. It sure would partly explain the long delay from when the Russian and American program did this, just as it explains the troubles of the Japanese program. Its rocket science folks, and nobody has it perfected yet. You need all the help you can get. And success deserves acknowledgment. Congrats China. --Cirroc
butterfly1 at 10:55 PM JST - 30th September

so it really happened?!
Sarge at 11:12 PM JST - 30th September

Again, congrats to China on being only the third nation to do what the Russia and U.S. did 43 years ago. I'll be even more impressed when they walk on the moon, which the U.S. did 39 years ago.