In the next couple of weeks, either Wang Yaping or Liu Yang will be selected as China’s first ever female astronaut to be sent into space, as part of the Shenzhou-9 spacecraft crew. Both women are fighter pilots with the technical and psychological qualities required for the mission, but Liu Yang is the most likely candidate after proving her nerves of steel in a dramatic incident involving some birds.
Notice in the article the requirements of female astronauts, as stated by Chinese authorities: no scars, body odour, or decayed teeth. Interesting. I’m surprised they didn’t also specify cup size and ability to hold their breath. These requirements of the female candidates are almost as transparent as the ones outlined in Dr Strangelove’s survival plan:
There’s quite a bit of confusion surrounding the goals of China’s space program, which began almost 10 years ago. The China National Space Administration lists the short term goals as:
- Build a long term earth observation system
- Set up an independent satellite telecommunications network
- Establish an independent satellite navigation and positioning system
- Provide commercial launch services
- Set up a remote sensing system
- Study space science such as microgravity, space materials, life sciences, and astronomy
- Plan for exploration of the moon
Among their stated longer term goals are:
- Improve their standing in the world of space science
- Establish a crewed space station
- Crewed missions to the moon
- Establish a crewed lunar base
- Unmanned mission to Mars
They seem to have missed perhaps the most important motive, which is rubbing it in the face of the US. According to Rob Gifford, what China wants most is for the rest of the world to give it the respect it deserves, and as the US sees its hegemony slowly slip through its fingers, it must be particularly galling to witness such brash financial and technological dick-swinging going on across the Pacific.
