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AN ANAGRAM FOR “GOOBNET” IS “GO ON, BET”

WEEKLY WHINE

All together now

Ready? One... two... three. Yay, China!

Yes, the People's Republic of China has thrown Yang Liwei into space and then caught him. Congratulations for showing your Commitment to Space.

But as usual, there's much more to do. China may have entered the Superpower Club, but what other clubs does it need to enter?

SPACE STATION CLUB

Russia/Soviet Union earned their membership with all kinds of stations, like Salyut 7 and Mir. The US launched Skylab in 1973... and let it crash six years later. Oops! Better keep an eye on that solar activity.

China have made statements to the effect that they want to fly a space station fairly soon. Remember, that means you need a reliable launch vehicle. And a reliable way to get your taikonauts back home. And a reliable docking mechanism. And a reliable orbit.

MICROGRAVITY ENDURANCE CLUB

Valeri Polyakov spent 438 days in space in 1993-4. Sergei Avdeyev spent 380 days in space in 1998-9. Musa Manarov and Vladimir Titov spent 365 days in space in 1987-8. Nobody else has spent that much time on a single mission. Y'all got lots of catching up, China.

But you'd think China can do it if anyone can. This is the same country that has tolerated a "renegade province" for fifty years.

EARTH ORBIT ESCAPE CLUB

This is the one that really counts. Strictly speaking, nobody's done it at all. But most people say that if you get out to the Moon, you're not in Earth orbit any more. This is a new interpretation of orbital mechanics, kind of like how Eminem is a new interpretation of Bach.

Anyway, twenty four people have gone out far enough to see the far side of the Moon. English remains the only language that's ever been spoken out there - unless, of course, there's something that Ken Mattingly isn't telling us.

EARTH SPHERE OF INFLUENCE ESCAPE CLUB

Come on China, hurry up. This club needs a founding member.

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