Chinese to enter space within 100 days!!!

China's space program, which utilizes a modified Soyuz design, has announved that wit will send its first manned crew into space within 100 days, possibly on October 1st, the day on which the PRC was founded.

Keep in mind-- The soyuz was originally designed to fly to the moon, so, essentially, the Chinese have leapfrogged past the 'mercury capsule' stage and may be moonflight-capable within a decade.

Here's an article:

www.newscientist.com...

some specs and technical data on Shenzou (the ship akin to the soyuz, mentioned above) can be found at this very thorough page:

www.astronautix.com...

China isin't slown down by stupid politicians like in the US so they can do pretty much anything.

Originally posted by necro99
China isin't slown down by stupid politicians like in the US so they can do pretty much anything.

Well, it is 2003 right now. No, the PRC hasn't lagged behind one bit.

I'm glad China's trying to do something in space. At least someone is. If they want to pick up the US has left off more power to them!

Originally posted by Flinx
I'm glad China's trying to do something in space. At least someone is. If they want to pick up the US has left off more power to them!

Yeah, let the PRC perfect ICBM's. Good idea.