Friday, October 10, 2003

How do you say "The Right Stuff" in Cantonese?

The Chinese government has confirmed that they are launching their first manned space mission next week. They're being pretty coy about actual details, but I certainly wish them success, as a person who thinks that manned spaceflight is still the best thing to happen in the twentieth century and an essential part of our future as a species. Here are a couple of interesting things from the article:

:: The people doing the flying will be called "Taikonauts", from a Chinese word for "space".

:: The launch is being scheduled to possibly coincide with a major conference of the Chinese Communist Party, so as to link spaceflight with politics. Sort of like 1957 again…I wonder if we'll have some prominent Senator announcing that we have no intention of going to bed by the light of a Communist moon?

:: According to reports, the ship will be additionally equipped with handguns, knives, and other weapons. This quote is offered: Astronauts will be able to deal with wild beasts, sharks and other dangerous animals or enemies. Kinda makes you wonder where they're planning on landing. The Afghan highlands? Iraq? (Actually, the article reports that Inner Mongolia will be the landing site.)

:: The article does not report on what the taikonauts will eat while in flight. I envision little squeeze-tubes of Kung Pao Chicken, but that's probably wrong. (Which reminds me of an exchange from MAD Magazine's parody of 2001: A Space Odyssey that I never tire of quoting:

DAVE BOWMAN: What's for dinner?

FRANK POOLE: A glass of steak, a glass of potatoes, and a glass of corn.

DAVE BOWMAN: Nothing to drink?

FRANK POOLE: Yeah, a piece of coffee.

Har har!)

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