In October 2003 Yang Liwei made history as the first Chinese citizen in space, orbiting the globe 14 times in the Shenzhou 5. The Chinese space program has sometimes been called the last of the secret space programs. Although it is far less secretive now than formerly, fascinating revelations are still being made. Brian Harvey examines the history of the Chinese space program, from it's earliest times to the historic breakthrough of manned flight.

This will be the first coverage in book form to follow the first manned all-Chinese space flight The only book to predict future Chinese space development Contains the most up-to-date summary of developments in the Chinese space programme The only English language history of the Chinese space programme Sets the Chinese space programme in its scientific, historical, engineering and political context

Autorentext

Author of 'Race into space - the Soviet space programme' (1988), 'The new Russian space programme' (1994), 'Russia in space - the failed frontier?' (2001), 'Two roads into space - the Japanese and Indian space programmes' (1998), 'The Chinese space programme - from conception to future capabilities' (1997), 'The Chinese space programme - from conception to manned spaceflight' (2004), 'Europe's space programme' (2003), 'Two roads to the moon' (with Dave Shayler)(forthcoming), 'Russian planetary exploration' (forthcoming), 'Latest in space 2007' (forthcoming), all Praxis titles. Writer on articles on spaceflight for Astronomy Now, Orbit, Spaceflight, Journal of the British Interplanetary Society (JBIS), Space Chronicle, Astronomy & Space, Sunday Press, Quest, Irish Independent. Broadcaster for RTE, BBC (Radio 4, World Service), Canadian Broadcasting.

Klappentext

The Chinese space program has sometimes been called the last of the secret

space programs. Although it is far less secretive now than formerly,

fascinating revelations are still being made.

This book is the history of the Chinese space program from its earliest

times to the historic breakthrough of manned flight. Significant events

include

EUR Middle Ages: the inventon of the rocket

EUR 1956: the establishment of the space program

EUR 1970: the launch of its first Earth satellite

EUR 1975: the launch into orbit and recovery of a satellite

EUR 1984: the first communications satellite is put into 24hr orbit

EUR 2003: China's first yuhangyuan, Yang Liwei, orbits the Earth

EUR 2007 (planned): first probe to the Moon

China¹s Space Program gives China the prominence it deserves as Asia¹s

leading spacefaring nation.

Inhalt
Author's Preface and Acknowledgements.- Flight of the Shenzhou.- Origins - The Fiery Dragon.- Dong Fang Hong - The East is Red.- Expanding the Space Programme.- Communications and Conspiracies.- Applying the Space Programme.- Behind the Scenes.- Launch Centres, Rockets and their Engines.- Shuguang - False Dawn.- The Shenzhou Precursor Mission.- Future of China in Space.- Listing of Chinese Satellite Launches.- Milestones in the Development of the Chinese Space Programme.- Glossary.- Bibliography, Further Reading and Websites.- Index.