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CNN Live At Daybreak
China Set to Become Third Nation to Send Man into Space
Aired October 14, 2003 - 05:29 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: After 11 years of planning, testing and training, China is set to become the third nation to send a man into space.
For more on the impending incursion into space, let's head live to Beijing and Jaime Florcruz -- good morning, Jamie.
JAMIE FLORCRUZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Carol.
The final preparations for China's first manned space flight is under way. It could happen any time, in a matter of a few hours or a few days, between October 15 and 17. That was the window of time that the Chinese officials have announced as a provisional launch date.
Now, that's already something. It's unusual that the Chinese have announced these dates in advance, because China's space program is shrouded in secrecy. Very few details are known about the spacecraft, about the rocket and about the astronauts. And it's still not clear whether the Chinese television will cover the launch live or not -- Carol.
COSTELLO: Well, Jamie, this is a big deal for China. Why is it so secret?
FLORCRUZ: Well, in part because of its links with the military, which is a very secretive institution, but also because the Chinese are concerned about the risk of failure. The payoff of a big success is very obvious. It's huge. But the risk of failure is also big. And the Chinese officials are very cautious that they don't want a repeat of what happened in 1995, for example, when they covered the launch of an unmanned space flight and it failed right in front of everybody, in front of everybody's eyes in their living rooms. So they don't want a repeat of that and they only want a picture perfect launch -- Carol.
COSTELLO: Yes, you know, space missions are complicated affairs. I guess most people would expect some of them to not succeed. Why is it so important for this mission to succeed, for the Chinese government?
FLORCRUZ: Well, Carol, for the Chinese government and for the general public, this space program is very important not just as a vehicle for scientific and technological breakthroughs, but also as a vehicle for national pride and international prestige. China wants to hail this as yet another indication that China is a global power and that China is taking its rightful place in the global arena -- Carol.
COSTELLO: Jaime Florcruz reporting live from Beijing, China this morning.
Keep up with this latest player to reach for the stars on our Web site. You know the address by now, cnn.com/space, AOL keyword: CNN.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired October 14, 2003 - 05:29 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: After 11 years of planning, testing and training, China is set to become the third nation to send a man into space.
For more on the impending incursion into space, let's head live to Beijing and Jaime Florcruz -- good morning, Jamie.
JAMIE FLORCRUZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Carol.
The final preparations for China's first manned space flight is under way. It could happen any time, in a matter of a few hours or a few days, between October 15 and 17. That was the window of time that the Chinese officials have announced as a provisional launch date.
Now, that's already something. It's unusual that the Chinese have announced these dates in advance, because China's space program is shrouded in secrecy. Very few details are known about the spacecraft, about the rocket and about the astronauts. And it's still not clear whether the Chinese television will cover the launch live or not -- Carol.
COSTELLO: Well, Jamie, this is a big deal for China. Why is it so secret?
FLORCRUZ: Well, in part because of its links with the military, which is a very secretive institution, but also because the Chinese are concerned about the risk of failure. The payoff of a big success is very obvious. It's huge. But the risk of failure is also big. And the Chinese officials are very cautious that they don't want a repeat of what happened in 1995, for example, when they covered the launch of an unmanned space flight and it failed right in front of everybody, in front of everybody's eyes in their living rooms. So they don't want a repeat of that and they only want a picture perfect launch -- Carol.
COSTELLO: Yes, you know, space missions are complicated affairs. I guess most people would expect some of them to not succeed. Why is it so important for this mission to succeed, for the Chinese government?
FLORCRUZ: Well, Carol, for the Chinese government and for the general public, this space program is very important not just as a vehicle for scientific and technological breakthroughs, but also as a vehicle for national pride and international prestige. China wants to hail this as yet another indication that China is a global power and that China is taking its rightful place in the global arena -- Carol.
COSTELLO: Jaime Florcruz reporting live from Beijing, China this morning.
Keep up with this latest player to reach for the stars on our Web site. You know the address by now, cnn.com/space, AOL keyword: CNN.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
