Chinese Cosmonauts!

China: Lunar Space Programme Targets Resources! (12.3.2024)

Yang is widely known for leading the design work on the Chang’e 5 robotic spacecraft that fulfilled China’s first lunar sample retrieval mission.

He was speaking on the side-lines of the second session of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, which concluded in Beijing on Sunday. He is a member of the CPPCC National Committee, the top political advisory body in China.

China began its lunar programme in 2004 and has launched six robotic probes since 2007. The most recent mission, Chang’e 5, landed on the moon in December 2020 and soon brought 1,731 grams of lunar rocks and soil back to Earth, achieving a historic accomplishment about 44 years after the last lunar substances were brought back from our nearest celestial neighbour.

35000 BCE - Dragon

Qianfeng Daoism: Enter the Dragon! (9.2.2024)

Considering how important the concept of the ‘Dragon’ is throughout Chinese culture – I was surprised just how haphazard the construction of its representing ideogram actually is. As this is my area of academic expertise, I could not believe what I was looking at! Consequently, it took me three-days to disentangle the mess that this ideogram seems to have gotten itself into. Having achieved this objective – I then unloaded the finished article onto the Qianfeng Daoist website I help to administer.

Lay Mum's Stair-Carpet 2023!

Paignton: Laying the Stair-Carpet! (27.12.2023)

I say ‘properly’ – but what I mean is doing the job ‘to the best of our ability’ – which is far from professional (but then none of us are carpet-layers or decorators)! The entire job took about three-hours and we did a good job all things considered. Gee interspersed sessions of hammering nails with myself – whilst Paul kept the carpet ‘straight’ and unrolling properly! Manual labour is the essence of social, cultural and political development! None of us are beneath manual labour!

Dr John Wilkins (1614-1672): Revolutionary Thinkimg & England’s 1640 CE Moon-Shot! (30.9.2023)

The point is that the external Revolutionary conditions of British society that led directly to the English Civil Wars (and the overthrow of absolute monarchy) – not only emerged from changing attitudes within – but served to further condition the human mind to think beyond the boundaries set by previous generations without! Changing times led to changing thoughts – and changing thoughts led to the eventual advancement of science and society. John Wilkins is to be applauded for his diplomatic skills and his scientific vigour! This very much encapsulates the spirit of the English Revolution!

Mooncakes Are in Town! (22.9.2023)

In 2023 this will fall on Friday September 29th! This coincides with what is termed the ‘Chung Yeung’ Festival – where the graves of the ancestors are cleaned and tidied! In Putonghua this is pronounced as ‘Chong Yang’ (重陽) and refers to the ‘Double Nine’ attribute common in the Book of Changes (essentially a ‘double-yang’ line in a hexagram implying incredible good luck – doubled). What all this means – and there are many more stories – is that we eat Mooncakes and pay respect to our deceased ancestors – either at their graves or at a shrine – where incense-sticks are lit. Meanwhile, there is a beautiful woman, a Jade Rabbit and even a Master-Archer – who is able to shoot-down false ‘Moons’! Like most cultural aspects in traditional China – there is a complexity of integration, contradiction, paradox and reconciliation! The main point is to wish everybody Good Luck for the future!

China: CPC Announces Manned Moon Landing! (12.7.2023)

After completing the designated tasks, the astronauts will return to the lunar lander and ascend to the lunar orbit, where the lander will dock with the spacecraft. The astronauts will then transfer lunar samples and other items to the spacecraft before separating it from the lunar lander. Finally, the spacecraft will return to the Earth, Zhang added.

To accomplish this mission, Chinese researchers are currently developing the Long March 10 carrier rocket, a new generation of manned spacecraft, lunar lander, lunar surface suits, manned lunar rover, etc.

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