China

China’s report of astronauts’ first night in space a fake

London, September 26: If reports are to be believed, China’s state news agency had published a dispatch from the country’s three latest astronauts describing their first night in space in the Shenzhou VII space craft before they had even left Earth, indicating that the agency had faked the report.

According to a report in the Telegraph, a message from the Chinese astronauts was released before the mission had even set off.

The article, by the Xinhua agency, described the Shenzhou VII space craft orbiting the Earth and outlined a conversation between the astronauts.

“First-level measurment arrangement,” said one taikonaut - the Chinese word for astronaut.

Chinese astronauts assemble suit for spacewalk

Beijing - Astronauts aboard China's Shenzhou VII spacecraft began assembling a spacesuit Friday in preparation for the country's first spacewalk, state media said.

The three astronauts unpacked the Chinese-made suit Friday morning but the complete assembly would take about 15 hours, the official Xinhua news agency said.

The agency also said the spacewalk was not expected until Saturday afternoon after earlier reports that it would take place Friday.

Shenzhou VII moved from an elliptical orbit into a circular orbit 343 kilometres above the Earth early Friday in preparation for the spacewalk, and the craft had completed 
11 orbits, as scheduled, from Thursday night to midday Friday.

Historic Space Launch Prepared By China

The latest manned mission taken up by China, is being termed a remarkable Historic Space Launch Prepared By China step towards success for the country, as it is being hoped that this mission besides marking the first spacewalk for the nation, will also help in making a permanent space station base. 

Tonight, a Shenzhou-VII capsule will blast into the space carrying three yuhangyuan" (astronauts). It will do so on board the Long-March II-F rocket from the Jiuquan spaceport in Gansu province in the northwest China. 

China's Shenzhou VII adjusts orbit for spacewalk

Beijing - China's Shenzhou VII manned spacecraft adjusted its orbit early Friday in preparation for the country's first spacewalk later in the day, the government said.

Shenzhou VII moved from an elliptical orbit to a circular orbit 343 kilometres above the Earth at 4:05 am (2005 GMT Thursday), state broadcaster China Central Television reported.

China launched three astronauts in Shenzhou VII on a Long March-2F carrier rocket Thursday night from the Jiuquan space centre in the north-western province.

The scheduled three- to four-day Shenzhou VII mission includes a spacewalk to be carried out by astronaut Zhai Zhigang at about 4:30 pm (0830 GMT) Friday.

China allows Taiwan to investigate milk scandal

china tainted milkTaipei  - China has approved Taiwan's request to send a delegation to investigate its tainted milk products and exports to Taiwan, officials said Thursday.

The team of health experts are ready to leave for Beijing on Sunday, they said.

The latest development came as Taiwan's Health Minister Lin Fang-yue resigned to take responsibility over the public outcry over policy reversal by health authorities in dealing with the Chinese milk crisis.

China launches Shenzhou VII spacewalk mission

China To Train New Generation Of AstronautsBeijing  - China on Friday launched its Shenzhou VII manned space mission carrying three astronauts whose main task was to complete the country's first spacewalk.

The spacecraft lifted off from the Jiuquan space centre in the north-western province at about 9:10 pm (1310 GMT) on board a Long March-2F carrier rocket.

The scheduled three-day Shenzhou VII mission includes China's first spacewalk on Friday, which is expected to last about 40 minutes and be carried out by astronaut Zhai Zhigang.

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