Скачать или смотреть NASA Rival: Shenzhou5 Blasts Off

On October 15, 2003, China made history with the launch of Shenzhou-5 from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center. Carrying astronaut Yang Liwei, this mission marked China’s first human spaceflight, catapulting the nation into the exclusive "space club" alongside the U.S. and Russia—and sending a clear challenge to NASA’s decades-long leadership in manned space exploration.
Shenzhou-5 orbited Earth 14 times over 21 hours and 23 minutes, completing a flawless mission that validated China’s independently developed key technologies. These included advanced re-entry lift control for precise landing, a reliable life support system, and a rocket escape system—all developed without relying on NASA’s collaborative frameworks like the International Space Station (ISS).
While NASA had pioneered manned spaceflight decades earlier, Shenzhou-5 showcased China’s ability to achieve a development (leapfrog development) in just 11 years since launching its manned space program. The spacecraft’s design, with a spacious 2.5-meter-diameter cabin and solar power systems, even outperformed early NASA missions like Mercury and Gemini in key aspects.
This mission wasn’t just a national milestone; it reshaped the global space landscape. It proved that China could develop a self-sufficient manned space system, ending the West’s long-held dominance and establishing itself as a major space power capable of competing with NASA on equal footing.
#NASA #SpaceX #ElonMusk #BlueOrigin #ArtemisProgram #ISS #Falcon9 #FalconHeavy#Starship #OrionSpacecraft #SpaceTelescope #CrewDragon #starship