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December 2003: Issue 1
First Chinese Taikonaut in Space
Here's the Scoop!
On October 15-16, 2003, Yang Liwei orbited the
Earth for 21 hours to become the first taikonaut (the Chinese
equivalent of an astronaut) from the People’s Republic
of China to go into space. China is only the third country to
launch a human into space, joining the United States and the
former Soviet Union (now Russia).
The launch, which was attended by President Ju Hintao, was aired
on Chinese state television to millions of enthusiastic Chinese
supporters. The new national hero was carried into space aboard
the Shenzhou, a spacecraft designed after the Russian Soyuz
three-person capsule. Liwei’s historic journey marks the
first step in China’s plan for space exploration.
Use it in the Classroom!
Exploration Yesterday and Today (402 KB)
Grades K - 4
In the lesson Exploration Yesterday
and Today, students discuss exploration as
a human desire. Use China’s first manned spaceflight to
launch a discussion of how space exploration is becoming an
international effort, and the innate desire for all humans to
participate in exploration. This discussion can be used to introduce
the activity and create real-world connections to the classroom.
This activity is from Building a Permanent Human Presence
in Space, an Education Module for Challenger Center’s
Journey through the Universe program. For more information
about Journey through the Universe, visit www.challenger.org/journey
Connection to a CLC Mission Scenario!
Grades 5 - 8
Use Yang Liwei’s maiden voyage to demonstrate to students who that space exploration is truly becoming an international effort. The International Space Station, like the one in all four of the mission scenarios, may someday become a collaboration of many more countries in the world!
Learn More About It!
To learn more about Yang Liwei’s historic
flight, visit:
http://SkyandTelescope.com/news/article_1082_1.asp
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/3192330.stm
http://spaceflightnow.com/shenzhou/031015landing.html
