# Good luck, taikonauts!

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-luck-taikonauts/207331>\
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\
**Created:** [October 14, 2003, 6:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-luck-taikonauts/207331 "2003-10-14T06:28:30Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![edwino](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/35a633/32.png) [@edwino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/edwino)\
**Post date:** [October 14, 2003, 6:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-luck-taikonauts/207331/1 "2003-10-14T06:28:30Z")

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Apparently, China will be launching someone up into space in the next four days:  
[http://www.cnn.com/2003/TECH/space/10/13/china.space/index.html](http://www.cnn.com/2003/TECH/space/10/13/china.space/index.html)

As a backer of space exploration when it is actual exploration, I would like to send my best wishes to the one to three brave people about to be strapped to the rocket and shot off into 14 or so orbits.

I would also like to welcome a third space-faring nation into the fold and remind the US government that a little competition never hurt.

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**Author:** ![Cliffy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/59ef9b/32.png) [@Cliffy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cliffy)\
**Post date:** [October 14, 2003, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-luck-taikonauts/207331/2 "2003-10-14T13:53:25Z")

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Although China’s being close-mouthed about the whole operation, it’s believed that only one guy is going up the first time – although the craft is a three-seater.

Still, godspeed.

–Cliffy

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**Author:** ![Bruce\_Daddy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/85f322/32.png) [@Bruce\_Daddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bruce_Daddy)\
**Post date:** [October 14, 2003, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-luck-taikonauts/207331/3 "2003-10-14T14:06:27Z")

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I’m sure I’ll be singing when I watch the launch: “It’s been a long road. . . gettin’ from there to here. . .”

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**Author:** ![athelas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5e9695/32.png) [@athelas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/athelas)\
**Post date:** [October 14, 2003, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-luck-taikonauts/207331/4 "2003-10-14T17:26:11Z")

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Do that, and folks’ll probably be howling in agony.

In China.

(I’m kidding, I’m kidding…)

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**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\
**Post date:** [October 14, 2003, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-luck-taikonauts/207331/5 "2003-10-14T17:32:33Z")

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Nothing quite like the peaceful use of gunpowder.

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**Author:** ![kingpengvin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9dc877/32.png) [@kingpengvin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kingpengvin)\
**Post date:** [October 15, 2003, 12:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-luck-taikonauts/207331/6 "2003-10-15T12:06:12Z")

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Or an Inter contenental ballistic missile.

Up to this point there was a lot of ridicule by people over China;'s effort. Most people really don’t understand how very difficult it is to put a human being into orbit and (hopefully) get them back alive. It is a major acomplishment and anyone who thinks China is a backwards nation forgets the true potential that nation has. I wonder if they will be on the moon by the next decade?