New spacecraft launch upcoming

[Qikdraw]

Shenzhou-7 in final preparation for launch (http://english.sina.com/technology/2008/0920/187429.html)

http://images2.sina.com/english/technology/2008/0920/U102P200T1D187429F8DT20080920052118.jpg

http://images2.sina.com/english/technology/2008/0920/U102P200T1D187429F10DT20080920052118.jpg

JIUQUAN, Gansu, Sept. 20 (Xinhua) -- The Shenzhou-7 manned spaceship, the Long-March II-F rocket and the escape tower were vertically transferred to the launch pad at 3:15 p.m. on Saturday, marking the final stage of the preparation.

The 58.3-meter-high body was transferred to the launch pad on a 1,500-meter-long heavy rail line. The transfer lasted more than one hour and two check-ups were conducted.

More than 20 meteorological workers were monitoring the process as the transfer must be conducted with the wind speed under 10 meters per second.

The manned spacecraft Shenzhou-7 would be launched at an appropriate time between Sept. 25 and 30 from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwestern Gansu Province.

The Long-March II-F rocket, developed in 1992, is said to be the most complicated and reliable carrier rocket in China's aviation history with all its launch mission successfully finished. So far the rocket had sent two manned spacecraft and four unmanned into space.

Since October 1996, the Long-March series rockets have successfully launched for 108 times. The Shenzhou-7 project will be its 109th mission.

Earlier reports said when Shenzhou-7 enters its orbit, one of the three aeronauts would conduct a space walk and cameras would be mounted outside and inside of the ship for live broadcast of the walk.

While the last mission of Shenzhou-6, with a crew of two, was aimed at multiple days of manned flight, this time the task might be more stringent as one of its main goals was the space walk.

China successfully put two manned spacecraft into orbit in 2003 and 2005, respectively, becoming the third country to send an astronaut into space after the United States and the Soviet Union.

[lordshipmayhem]

Godspeed to the three taikonauts, here's to a successful trip and a happy landing.

If we were to remain on this planet, the human race would be doomed to extinction. This planet is a nest for this species - just as for birds to survive they must eventually leave their nests, so must we.

[HabaneroSting]

This planet is a nest for this species - just as for birds to survive they must eventually leave their nests, so must we.

I am a consultant to space programs and even though I do agree that we must venture out beyond the nest I urge everyone that finding a new planet to live on is not as easy as you might think. My concern is that space travel is an excuse not to take care of the planet we have. No where else in the solar system do you find a protective atmosphere and magnetic field. These two things protect people from intense radiation, impacts from most objects, and extremes of hot and cold. I have worked on lunar base designs and we had to deal with the even the smallest particles damaging protective domes, intense radiation and solar storms. All of which the the Earth protects us from. On the moon you would spend most of your life underground to get similar protection. No where else could you walk outdoors naked in the sun and breeze. We can live on other planets, but think of it like living at an Antarctic base station. It can be done, but not a substitute for a white sand beach in Hawaii.

[lordshipmayhem]

finding a new planet to live on is not as easy as you might think

True. Within this solar system we have maybe one other planet and a handful of moons, but other than that if anything went seriously FUBAR on this planet, we'd be reduced to living in orbital colonies, which would be expensive and delicate.

We right now know of a handful of stars with planets, but last time I checked they were all in the Gas Giant size. The smaller rocky planets are too small for our current techniques to pick up reliably.

Any voyage to another star system using the technology posited for the next 50 years would be a one-way trip, even to Alpha Centauri. You'd have to know that any system you were sending a colony ship to had an Earth or Mars type planet, in a stable orbit located in the range that allowed liquid water. Tough and scarce parameters, to be sure.

[NudePete]

Is anybody else disturbed by the number of unnecessary observers in the first photo? This thing is an extremely thin walled thermos bottle of highly explosive rocket fuel, with solid fuel rockets strapped on for good measure.

[BinCo]

Nude Pete, I am not sure that it would be fueled during the transfer. Solid fuels, yes. Liquid fuels, not likely. The extra weight is unnecessary and we and the Russians pump fuel on the pad. The liquid fuel is liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen, so it also needs to be kept super cold, which is why a scrubbed Shuttle launch needs to be pumped empty before they allow the astronauts to leave. You're right, it's a big bomb sitting out there.

[nimrod]

You're right, it's a big bomb sitting out there.

Yes all rockets are just big bombs, we are just trying to control the explosion. There should be more research into safer ways for space flights. There are some doing it without traditional rockets, but the payloads are small.

[usmc1]

Godspeed to the three taikonauts, here's to a successful trip and a happy landing.

If we were to remain on this planet, the human race would be doomed to extinction. This planet is a nest for this species - just as for birds to survive they must eventually leave their nests, so must we.

Let me add my voice to those alerting you to the fact that at present we really have nowhere else to go and no way of getting there if there were.

There is no planet in our solar system conducive to life as we know it. None. And the daydream of a biosphere colony on Mars is merely that--a daydream. We couldn't even get a biosphere up and properly operational on earth.

And there are no known star systems with a planet in the absolutely perfect position as is earth in relation to its star. And if there were such, we really do not have the technology or mastery of the physical, distance and time limitations we would face in mounting such an adventure.

Up until now, our feeble and meager exploration of our moon, orbital space, and solar system's planets have been somewhat on the order of a child throwing a leaf into a creek while dreaming of building a ship to sail down the creek, into a river, and into the ocean.

Earth is it! And we'd best shape up, 'cause shipping out is not an option.

[BinCo]

usmc1, I don't know how much I agree with you on some points. Earth is all there is for now. Who knows what technology tomorrow will bring? I have hope that someday humans will be able to travel across the vastness of space. Unfortunately we seem more intent on doing it in order to destroy the universe. We'll bring them all Democracy:laugh:

I, for one, was able to foresee the only logical finality to the last BSG when they came to a ruined planet. None of my buddies who watch it, which are few, would think that they would land in a destroyed world.

We, as a species, seem intent on self annialation. Be it thru enviromental losses, genetic manipulation, nuclear holocost, or rapture (:rolleyes:).

I do like your thoughts on the leaf in the ocean. I think I'll use it someday, but I might substitute a notched stick with a leaf for a sail.

[usmc1]

usmc1, I don't know how much I agree with you on some points. Earth is all there is for now. Who knows what technology tomorrow will bring? I have hope that someday humans will be able to travel across the vastness of space. Unfortunately we seem more intent on doing it in order to destroy the universe. We'll bring them all Democracy:laugh:

I, for one, was able to foresee the only logical finality to the last BSG when they came to a ruined planet. None of my buddies who watch it, which are few, would think that they would land in a destroyed world.

We, as a species, seem intent on self annialation. Be it thru enviromental losses, genetic manipulation, nuclear holocost, or rapture (:rolleyes:).

I do like your thoughts on the leaf in the ocean. I think I'll use it someday, but I might substitute a notched stick with a leaf for a sail.

See, there you go. Our little creek side civilization has already, virtually within hours, advanced from floating leaf technology to the notched stick with leaf-sail stage. Soon our imaginary civilization will be entering an age of canoes and commerce with the tribes along the stream and gazing longingly at the moon on clear nights.

I too yearn and hope that humanity will overcome its frailties and venture out into the cosmos, but have learned not to rely too heavily on technology. I mean, how long have we been trying to generate energy from "fusion"? We know that there is such a thing as gravity, but we really don't fully understand it and it remains an unproven theory

There is nothing in the human experience which enables our mind to actually grasp the immense vastness and hostility of "outer space". It is not a matter of building a more powerful rocket ship, it is a matter of figuring out, of learning, the very nature of space and the laws which govern it. In short, we do not really know what we're up against, or what it would take to actually locate a desired destination and get ourselves there.

We are like our little creek side tribe in that our knowledge of our creek is based on what we see and have experienced, but we have no knowledge of, or imagination of, the rapids and falls many miles down stream because we have never seen such. Our little leaf and stick vessels don't complete their journey, and we never know of their demise.

Someday, if we do not destroy ourselves, or are caught in one of earth's periodic species extinction episodes, we may very well achieve the dream of space exploration and colonization. Which is why research, and study, and experimentation with particle accelerators are so important and critical. Once we fully understand the make up, the laws, and rules governing life, matter, and time then we can design, and build the technology to fulfill the dream.

According to some quantum physicists all that is might be based on harmonically vibrating threads of energy. And skeptics, such as I, must, from time-to-time, remind ourselves that there is a considerable "belief system" that claims, "in the beginning there was the "Word". What if we were "spoken" into existence, and those harmonically vibrating energy threads are the very echo of creation?

Those physicists posit the potential for ten to eleven dimensions and ways of viewing space, time, matter and life in entirely different ways than we do now. String theory would allow for the concept that we do not need to travel to get somewhere, we might already be there and not realize it. The measure would then become, how to "be present" in that specific "there" without arduous "travel".

Note, I said concept!

And all that is before politics, religion and human nature come into the picture. We can't even cooperate in order to come to grips with climate change in a constructive way.

It distresses me, but, I think we'll be caught up in a species extinction episode long before we trek into "outer space".

[Qikdraw]

Chinese Say They're Building 'Impossible' Space Drive (http://blog.wired.com/defense/2008/09/chinese-buildin.html)

Chinese researchers claim they've confirmed the theory behind an "impossible" space drive, and are proceeding to build a demonstration version. If they're right, this might transform the economics of satellites, open up new possibilities for space exploration –- and give the Chinese a decisive military advantage in space.

To say that the "Emdrive" (short for "electromagnetic drive") concept is controversial would be an understatement. According to Roger Shawyer, the British scientist who developed the concept, the drive converts electrical energy into thrust via microwaves, without violating any laws of physics. Many researchers believe otherwise. An article about the Emdrive in New Scientist magazine drew a massive volley of criticism. Scientists not only argued that Shawyer's work was blatantly impossible, and hat his reasoning was flawed. They also said the article should never have been published.

"It is well known that Roger Shawyer's 'electromagnetic relativity drive' violates the law of conservation of momentum, making it simply the latest in a long line of 'perpetuum mobiles' that have been proposed and disproved for centuries," wrote John Costella, an Australian physicist. "His analysis is rubbish and his 'drive' impossible."

Shawyer stands by his theoretical work. His company, Satellite Propulsion Research (SPR), has constructed demonstration engines, which he says produce thrust using a tapering resonant cavity filled with microwaves. He is adamant that this is not a perpetual motion machine, and does not violate the law of conservation of momentum because different reference frames apply to the drive and the waves within it. Shawyer's big challenge, he says, has been getting people who will actually look into his claims rather than simply dismissing them.

Interesting. Very interesting if they get it to work. They have the money to dump into space exploration right now, so it makes sense that they are doing it.

[lordshipmayhem]

And we take you now to the bridge of the new Chinese spaceship, Spaceballs I, with its Impossible Drive.

SANDURZ (over loudspeaker) Prepare ship
for light speed.

DARK HELMET No, no, no, light speed is too slow.

SANDURZ Light speed, too slow?

DARK HELMET Yes, we're gonna have to go right to ludicrous
speed.

[usmc1]

Chinese Say They're Building 'Impossible' Space Drive (http://blog.wired.com/defense/2008/09/chinese-buildin.html)



Interesting. Very interesting if they get it to work. They have the money to dump into space exploration right now, so it makes sense that they are doing it.

Science has a very long history of pooh-poohing advances in knowledge and new theories. He might be on to something, and he might not.

But, if I understand correctly, all this does is create a new (highly desirable) method of propulsion replacing current fuels. It does not overcome the basic issue of the vast distances of outer space.

Given the moment, one wonders if this mode of propulsion realistically would/could be converted to land based people carriers?

[Fitz1980]

Wonder how that will turn out. Science does have a long history of the old school people not understanding a new concept and not believing in it. But at the same time there's an even longer history of con artists convincing people to sink money into things that are impossible and don't work. Just the other day I saw a guy on the internet trying to sell people a system that he claims will let you run your car on water.

Wonder what this one will turn out to be.

[Qikdraw]

Astronaut takes China's first spacewalk (http://www.cnn.com/2008/TECH/space/09/27/china.space.orbit/index.html)

Chinese astronaut has completed his country's first-ever spacewalk as part of an ambitious program that is starting to rival the United States and Russia in its rapid expansion.

Zhai Zhigang waved to an external camera as he emerged from the hatch of the Shenzhou-7 spaceship on Saturday.

He later held a small Chinese flag, waving it in space.

Zhai returned to the interior of his capsule and closed the hatch after less than 20 minutes outside.

State broadcaster CCTV showed live images of Zhigang as he floated out of the orbiter module's hatch. "Greetings to all the people of the nation and all the people of the world," The Associated Press quoted him as saying.

Very cool and congrats to Zhai Zhigang!

[Bob S.]

Chinese have discovered the power of time travel.

OK, not really, but they did have a pre-typed story about the launch but accidentally posted that story, complete with supposed dialogue.

From Yahoo News (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080925/ap_on_re_as/as_china_space_article_1):

Bob S.

China space mission article hits Web before launch

<!-- BEGIN STORY BODY --> Thu Sep 25, 9:20 AM ET

<!-- end storyhdr --> BEIJING - A news story describing a successful launch of China's long-awaited space mission and including detailed dialogue between astronauts launched on the Internet Thursday, hours before the rocket had even left the ground.

The country's official news agency Xinhua posted the article on its Web site Thursday, and remained there for much of the day before it was taken down.

A staffer from the Xinhuanet.com (http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/ap/ap_on_re_as/storytext/as_china_space_article/29247016/SIG=10m3iflfo/*http://Xinhuanet.com) Web site who answered the phone Thursday said the posting of the article was a "technical error" by a technician. The staffer refused to give his name as is common among Chinese officials.

The Shenzhou 7 mission, which will feature China's first-ever spacewalk, is set to launch Thursday from Jiuquan in northwestern China between 9:07 a.m. EDT and 10:27 p.m. EDT.

The arcticle, dated two days from now on Sept. 27, vividly described the rocket in flight, complete with a sharply detailed dialogue between the three astronauts.

Excerpts are below:
"After this order, signal lights all were switched on, various data show up on rows of screens, hundreds of technicians staring at the screens, without missing any slightest changes ...

'One minute to go!'

'Changjiang No.1 found the target!'...

"The firm voice of the controller broke the silence of the whole ship. Now, the target is captured 12 seconds ahead of the predicted time ...

'The air pressure in the cabin is normal!'

"Ten minutes later, the ship disappears below the horizon. Warm clapping and excited cheering breaks the night sky, echoing across the silent Pacific Ocean."