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Author
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Topic: Taikonaut autographs?
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spaced out
Member Posts: 3110
From: Paris, France
Registered: Aug 2003
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posted 10-01-2003 08:11 AM
   
For those 'completists' out there that have the autographs of everyone who's been into space... is it going to be tricky to get the auotgraphs of the first two Chinese astronauts (or Taikonauts)?Rumour has it that Shenzhen-5 could be launched within the next few weeks. If all goes well it's going to leave a gap (!?!) in those collections! Of course I'm sure e-Bay will be overflowing with 'genuine' signed photos within hours of the launch, all with 'lifetime COAs' too I'll bet. |
Shuttlefan
Member Posts: 173
From: 41366 Schwalmtal, Germany
Registered: Oct 2002
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posted 10-03-2003 02:43 PM
Good question, I'm busy with thoughts how to get these taikonauts added to my collection too. Interesting enough there was a big stand of the Chinese Space Agency at the IAC in Bremen, today the exhibition was open for the public and I contacted them. They were quite polite but would or could not give any details when I asked for a possible way to get autographs (which surely will only be given out after a complete success of the flight). At least I could leave my business card and got a promise the would do "what they can". Will be funny to see if anything will be in my mail box and when... |
Shuttlefan
Member Posts: 173
From: 41366 Schwalmtal, Germany
Registered: Oct 2002
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posted 10-03-2003 02:48 PM
Just wanted to add that at least I got something: a Shenzhou pin, they also had a display with a 1:10 scale model. Just opposite to them there was a book stand, where David Shayler was selling his books, and in respect to one of his newest releases about the story of the Soyuz missions we had a nice talk about the resemblances between the two space ships. |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42981
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 10-03-2003 02:54 PM
quote:
Originally posted by Shuttlefan:
They were quite polite but would or could not give any details when I asked for a possible way to get autographs (which surely will only be given out after a complete success of the flight).
Actually, they are already signing -- at least for one lucky individual.According to Rosaviakosmos spokesman Sergei Gorbunov, the launch of Shen Zhou-5 will be on October 7, and will fly either Wu Jie or Li Quinglong aboard (the two who trained at Star City). Bert Vis was fortunate to have both sign for him when they were in Russia. |
Tom
Member Posts: 1597
From: New York
Registered: Nov 2000
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posted 10-03-2003 03:59 PM
Was looking at the photo of the Shenzou crew in training. Even the suits they're in look identical to the Russian version... unless they were training in a Russian spacesuit. |
MrSpace86
Member Posts: 1618
From: Gardner, KS, USA
Registered: Feb 2003
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posted 10-03-2003 04:35 PM
It just makes me feel weird to see the striking similarities to the spacesuits, rockets, and spacecraft. It's like seeing a Soyuz mission. Should they be considered officially the third power in space when everything looks kind of Russian? |
Cliff Lentz
Member Posts: 655
From: Philadelphia, PA USA
Registered: Mar 2002
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posted 10-03-2003 04:53 PM
Just think of the panic that would have been caused in the early 60's if Russia AND Red China (as I so often heard it referred to) put a man in space before the US! There doesn't seem to be any panic at all about this. What if it was Iran that decided to put a man in space bnefore China.I think if China is maintaining their own program, then they definately are the third nation to fly in space. I personally wouldn't count France until someone climbs onboard an Ariane and rides the rocket. |
eurospace
Member Posts: 2610
From: Brussels, Belgium
Registered: Dec 2000
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posted 10-04-2003 10:58 AM
quote:
Originally posted by Cliff Lentz:
I personally wouldn't count France until someone climbs onboard an Ariane and rides the rocket.
The French will operate their first man-rated rocket probably in co-operation with the Russians, in the framework of their joint STARSEM venture.Soon, Soyuz rockets will be launched out of Kourou. There is no obstacle in principle to organize manned flights out of this location. ------------------
Jürgen P Esders
Berlin, Germany
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Astroaddies |
eurospace
Member Posts: 2610
From: Brussels, Belgium
Registered: Dec 2000
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posted 10-04-2003 11:01 AM
quote:
Originally posted by Robert Pearlman:
According to Rosaviakosmos spokesman Sergei Gorbunov, the launch of Shen Zhou-5 will be on October 7, and will fly either Wu Jie or Li Quinglong aboard (the two who trained at Star City).
It should be noted that Rosaviakosmos has nothing at all to do with the Chinese launch and their statement is as good as Robert Pearlman's or Sean O'Keefe's statement on whether or when the Chinese launch would take place. In other words: not much at all.I have discussed the matter with a number of qualified space journalists who were present at the IAF Congress and our informations, which stem from different sources, center around October 15th as the date. As for the crew, my Chinese source says there will be a single cosmonaut and he will be selected out of a panel of 5 immediately before the launch. No decision had yet been taken. ------------------
Jürgen P Esders
Berlin, Germany
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Astroaddies |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42981
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 10-04-2003 11:08 AM
quote:
Originally posted by eurospace:
It should be noted that Rosaviakosmos has nothing at all to do with the Chinese launch and their statement is as good as Robert Pearlman's or Sean O'Keefe's statement on whether or when the Chinese launch would take place. In other words: not much at all.
Well, I don't know about Sean O'Keefe, but the Chinese don't make a move without consulting with me first.  Seriously though, Rosaviakosmos had at least a hand in training the first two Chinese taikonauts (who in turn became trainers for the other 12). You would think because of this, the Chinese would keep at least a few in Russia inside their inner loop. (That's not to say Gorbunov knows more or less than O'Keefe or anyone else outside the Chinese government, but as spokesman for Koptev, I would venture a guess that Gorbunov wasn't just pulling his statements from thin air...) |
Larry McGlynn
Member Posts: 1255
From: Boston, MA
Registered: Jul 2003
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posted 10-04-2003 10:12 PM
quote:
Originally posted by eurospace:
It should be noted that Rosaviakosmos has nothing at all to do with the Chinese launch and their statement is as good as Robert Pearlman's or Sean O'Keefe's statement on whether or when the Chinese launch would take place. In other words: not much at all.
Jurgen, I must say that I find your statement concerning Rob's information insulting. Robert's information is usually bullet proof, because he has the contacts throughout the space industry. I think you owe Robert an apology. You should have used a better choice of tone and words in your comments. At least he has the ability to laugh at your insult, maybe that shows the type of human being he is. Which, I might add, is better than myself. Larry McGlynn |
eurospace
Member Posts: 2610
From: Brussels, Belgium
Registered: Dec 2000
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posted 10-05-2003 02:23 AM
quote:
Originally posted by Larry McGlynn:
I think you owe Robert an apology. You should have used a better choice of tone and words in your comments.
Larry, I would owe Robert an apology if and only if the first Chinese manned spaceflight would indeed take place on October 7th. I will then congratulate him to his good contacts and excellent judgment. I think both Robert and myself can wait out these two days. It's just a friendly banter between colleagues about a subject about which - as we both certainly agree - information is sketchy at best. No need to be pompous about it. Until then, I reiterate that Gorbunov is not the spokesperson of the Chinese space authorities and thus just a 2nd hand source as so many others. If you have to choice to trust a well-placed Chinese source and a well-placed foreign source, trust the Chinese... they're just closer to the show. ------------------
Jürgen P Esders
Berlin, Germany
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Astroaddies |
Larry McGlynn
Member Posts: 1255
From: Boston, MA
Registered: Jul 2003
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posted 10-05-2003 07:44 AM
Jurgen,Sorry, It is tough to understand the tone of emails sometimes. The tone of your email sounded pompous. So I responded in kind. I misread the tone and your intent in your email. Larry |
Scott
Member Posts: 3307
From: Houston, TX
Registered: May 2001
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posted 10-05-2003 12:29 PM
I can't wait till the Taikonauts go to the Moon and do a Pete Conrad style landing near one of the Apollo sites. That will shut up the Moon hoaxers. |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42981
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 10-05-2003 12:36 PM
Well, you'll be waiting for quite some time. The reports of China's manned lunar landing aspirations have been greatly exaggerated. They have spoken about a robotic landing in the planning, but a manned mission is as far along on their drawing boards as a return to the Moon is on ours (which btw, is farther along than you would assume, but still years off). Now, if TransOrbital's Trailblazer launches as planned, we will have HDTV of the landing sites from orbit within the next year or so... |
Scott
Member Posts: 3307
From: Houston, TX
Registered: May 2001
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posted 10-05-2003 01:01 PM
quote:
Originally posted by Robert Pearlman:
Now, if TransOrbital's Trailblazer launches as planned, we will have HDTV of the landing sites from orbit within the next year or so...
YES! |
eurospace
Member Posts: 2610
From: Brussels, Belgium
Registered: Dec 2000
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posted 10-05-2003 01:05 PM
quote:
Originally posted by Larry McGlynn:
I misread the tone and your intent in your email.
That's OK, Larry. Guess we're now all looking forward to the launch, whether it be on the 7th or the 15th, and if it is the 25th, that'll will be just as well for everybody involved provided their spaceman gets back safely. Perhaps we should set up a betting office and put out a Shenzhou rocket model or something of the sort as the winning prize... ------------------
Jürgen P Esders
Berlin, Germany
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Astroaddies |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42981
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 10-05-2003 02:02 PM
quote:
Originally posted by eurospace:
Perhaps we should set up a betting office and put out a Shenzhou rocket model or something of the sort as the winning prize...
Universe Today has beat us to it. They have started a Shen Zhou-5 launch date/time friendly betting pool. |
Philip
Member Posts: 5952
From: Brussels, Belgium
Registered: Jan 2001
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posted 10-09-2003 03:28 AM
Autographs? Getting their official portraits will be hard enough! Anyway when these become available, we might have to wait NOT so much longer for another edition of the excellent book "Who's Who in space'! |
Voodoo
Member Posts: 48
From: Burlington, Ontario, Canada
Registered: Jul 2001
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posted 10-16-2003 11:11 AM
Should we start a pool for the date of the first person here to obtain an official autograph of China's first astronaut/Taikonaut? Martin |
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