Manned Chinese Launch

[aerostadt]

Shenzhou-11 with 2 Chinese astronauts scheduled to be launched soon.

https://spaceflightnow.com/2016/10/16/shenzhou-11-mission-status-center/

 

[aerostadt]

Shenzhou-11 is now in orbit.

 

[MaxQ]

Shenzhou-11 is now in orbit.

Watched the solar panels deploy....
Congratulations in order.

Launch operators at mission control with those lab coats and hats with the logos....looked like something out of Dr. No.

 

[mpitfield]

I watched the entire broadcast in the background and it is definitely a culturally different process. Not just from one space agency to another like a NASA launch compared to SpaceX (yes I know SpaceX is not technically a space agency) but there was a political spectacle about it. Still, great launch and exciting stuff for the Chinese to be installing two Astronauts in their new Tiangong 2 space lab.

They seem to have a plan and are pushing forward...it will be interesting to see the paths that NASA and it's commercial partners, Russia and China take over the next few decades.

 

[MaxQ]

I watched the entire broadcast in the background and it is definitely a culturally different process. Not just from one space agency to another like a NASA launch compared to SpaceX (yes I know SpaceX is not technically a space agency) but there was a political spectacle about it. Still, great launch and exciting stuff for the Chinese to be installing two Astronauts in their new Tiangong 2 space lab.

They seem to have a plan and are pushing forward...it will be interesting to see the paths that NASA and it's commercial partners, Russia and China take over the next few decades.

Yes, there was a noticeable political and military spin on it....especially the prominence of the generals of the Peoples Liberation Army making speeches in the broadcast of the event.
I mean, not as if our NASA missions did not have a visible military component, most of our astronauts are former or active military pilots like the Taikonanuts...but NASA tired to keep a civilian appearance for the most part.

 

[K'Tesh]

I wish I could pull in local TV. I bet the news is full of reports on their taikonanuts.

 

[Incongruent]

Watched the solar panels deploy....
Congratulations in order.

Launch operators at mission control with those lab coats and hats with the logos....looked like something out of Dr. No.

They have to pose for the pictures. Remember, to the average human viewer, anything in a lab coat (preferably with goggles and a clipboard too) is a scientist. Or a cult member.