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 The BBC's Adam Brookes"The launch comes amid a spate of national celebrations"  real 28k The BBC's Pallab Ghosh"It'll be good for national pride"  real 28k |
Russian hand on Chinese space capsule
The scorch marks of re-entry are clearly visible |
By BBC News Online Science Editor Dr David Whitehouse
China's first experimental spacecraft was taken back to Beijing by train on Tuesday after its successful maiden flight, the Xinhua news agency reported.
The unmanned spacecraft had touched down in Mongolia on Sunday after its historic, 21-hour, unmanned flight.
"Experts say the spacecraft remains intact, and the data collected will be helpful in making technological preparations for Chinese astronauts to soon travel in space," Xinhua said.
The vehicle was "completely indigenous" and the mission marked "another milestone in China's astronautical history," the state-controlled media outfit added.
The next capsule may carry Taikonauts |
This is unsurprising because, for over a decade, the Chinese have had contact with Russian space-capsule designers and purchased a spare Soyuz re-entry capsule which they studied and used as the basis for their design.
Because of this, western experts are unimpressed by China's claims to have developed by itself the unmanned spaceship.
The Soyuz that the Chinese purchased was stripped on almost all of its electronics, which they had to develop for themselves.
They also purchased a docking system, life-support system and pressure suit - all of which have been copied.
A dummy sat inside Shenzhou during its one-day flight in space. The dummy was fitted with sensors to monitor conditions during the voyage.
The Russians did the same thing in 1960 when they were preparing for Yuri Gagarin's pioneering flight.
Some analysts have speculated that the Chinese capsule could carry more that the three-man crew of the Russian Soyuz.
The docking and life-support systems have all been copied |
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Go Taikonauts |
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China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology |
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NASA |
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