| View previous topic :: View next topic |
| Author |
Message |
stevemcgarrett
Joined: 24 Mar 2006
|
 Posted: Wed Apr 09, 2008 1:08 am Post subject: SOUTH KOREAN ENTERS OUTERSPACE: PLANS KOREAN MEAL |
 |
|
This just off the wire:
| Quote: |
Soyuz capsule carries Korean astronaut
By DOUGLAS BIRCH, Associated Press Writer
Tue Apr 8, 2008
As a Russian Soyuz spacecraft rose into the bright blue sky Tuesday, spectators held their breaths, South Koreans celebrated their first astronaut and the astronaut's mother fainted...
Russia's space scientists and engineers, who struggled for over a decade after the collapse of the Soviet Union, seem to have made the risky and dramatic business of sending people into orbit almost routine.
"Everything goes like Swiss watches" on Soyuz flights, said Christian Feichtinger, who has witnessed a number of launches at the Baikonur Cosmodrome as head of the European Space Agency's Moscow office...
The Soyuz spacecraft is scheduled to deliver Volkov, cosmonaut Oleg Kononenko, 43, and Yi So-yeon, a 29-year-old South Korean bioengineer, to the international space station Thursday.
Despite the seeming routine, the sight of the 164-feet-high rocket arcing through the cloudless sky still stirred deep emotions. Relatives, friends and colleagues stood in silence watching the huge vehicle rise as though weightless from the launch pad. The ground shook and the roar of the engines made conversation impossible more than a mile away. Moments later Yi's mother, Jung Kum-suk, screamed and collapsed as Russian medics in orange jumpsuits rushed to her aid. Officials said later that she had recovered.
At about the same time, her daughter became the first Korean and the youngest woman ever to fly into space.
The launch triggered celebrations in South Korea, where thousands gathered near city hall in Seoul to watch on giant television screens. Live broadcasts showed Yi inside the capsule smiling and waving and giving the thumbs-up sign. [not near the burned gate, evidently]
"The birth of the first South Korean astronaut is a joy to the people and will give a big hope to the growing generations," President Lee Myung-bak told the crowd.
South Korea paid Russia $20 million for the launch,  [I thought that freight charge was reserved for private citizens] and staged a competition that drew 36,000 applicants to become the country's first astronaut.
Ko San, a mathematician, was originally supposed to fly on the Soyuz on Tuesday. He was relegated to the backup crew in March after he was accused of removing technical materials from a cosmonaut training center library without authorization. 
The drama of Yi's rise and Ko's fall inspired headlines in South Korea and Russia. Ko apologized and shrugged off his disappointment. His employer, the state-run Korea Aerospace Research Institute, has rebuked him.
Ko watched the launch at Baikonur � located in Kazakhstan but controlled by Russia � and called Yi well prepared. He felt anxious, he said, as he watched the rocket accelerate into the sky.
"I have no religion, but I prayed for the success of the flight," said Ko. Earlier, he had circulated among the crowd at the launch, smiling, having his photo taken and handing out yellow wildflowers from the Kazakh steppes...
Yi plans to conduct 18 scientific experiments during her nine days on the space station and has also pledged to cook a Korean meal there. [10 to 1 it includes kimchi] On Saturday, she will sing to mark Cosmonauts' Day. [oh, good, karaoke in zero gravity]
...Yi is to return to Earth on April 19 along with two of the station's other current occupants, American astronaut Peggy Whitson and flight engineer Yuri Malenchenko. |
Wonder whether the next Korean astronaut will be a man or woman and have to pass a lie detector test? Any guess on when Korea will launch its first manned space mission? |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
crusher_of_heads
Joined: 23 Feb 2007
Location: kimbop and kimchi for kimberly!!!!
|
| Posted: Wed Apr 09, 2008 1:19 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Any guess to where that missing thread of yours is? |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
happeningthang
Joined: 26 Apr 2003
|
| Posted: Wed Apr 09, 2008 1:21 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Good for her. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
redredwine
Joined: 07 Apr 2008
Location: John 15-13
|
| Posted: Wed Apr 09, 2008 1:33 am Post subject: |
|
|
| She opens that kimchi she may get spaced. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
On the other hand
Joined: 19 Apr 2003
Location: I walk along the avenue
|
| Posted: Wed Apr 09, 2008 2:53 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Quote: |
| "I have no religion, but I prayed for the success of the flight," said Ko. |
I don't get the point of your rolling-eyes here Steve. The guy prayed for the success of the flight. Seems like a fairly common thing to do in that sort of situation.
| Quote: |
The launch triggered celebrations in South Korea, where thousands gathered near city hall in Seoul to watch on giant television screens. Live broadcasts showed Yi inside the capsule smiling and waving and giving the thumbs-up sign. [not near the burned gate, evidently]
|
What does the burned gate have to do with anything? This seems like a rather feeble attempt at Korea-bashing on your part. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Milwaukiedave
Joined: 02 Oct 2004
Location: Goseong
|
| Posted: Wed Apr 09, 2008 4:58 am Post subject: |
|
|
Kimchi in space!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Dateline Korea:
The first Korean resturant opened in space today. The menu, everything is made of kimchi. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
gypsyfish
Joined: 17 Jan 2003
Location: Seoul
|
| Posted: Wed Apr 09, 2008 5:39 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Don't forget the ramen. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Suwoner10
Joined: 10 Dec 2007
|
| Posted: Wed Apr 09, 2008 6:42 am Post subject: |
|
|
It's good that she uphold Korean women's primary image as servants that feel they are obliged to cook...even in space...Korea really must have loaded her up with vital experiments for her to have the time.
Basically, she's no more an astronaut than those rich space tourist guys who pay big $$$ to go up on a Russian rocket. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
endo
Joined: 14 Mar 2004
Location: Seoul...my home
|
| Posted: Wed Apr 09, 2008 10:54 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Suwoner10 wrote: |
It's good that she uphold Korean women's primary image as servants that feel they are obliged to cook...even in space...Korea really must have loaded her up with vital experiments for her to have the time.
Basically, she's no more an astronaut than those rich space tourist guys who pay big $$$ to go up on a Russian rocket. |
I wouldn't go that far.
Don't you think oter nations pay money to the Americans or Russians to allow their citizens to join the space flight.
In addition, the women went through a competition to get there. Good for her. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
stevemcgarrett
Joined: 24 Mar 2006
|
| Posted: Thu Apr 10, 2008 12:44 am Post subject: |
|
|
OTOH asked:
| Quote: |
| I don't get the point of your rolling-eyes here Steve. The guy prayed for the success of the flight. Seems like a fairly common thing to do in that sort of situation. |
I just think it's amusing--in a pathetic sort of way--that an agnostic would find it useful to pray. Now I suppose as an admitted one yourself, you'll take umbrage with that by telling me that just because he doesn't have a religion doesn't mean he is without a faith, or some other gibberish.
crusherofheads jabbed:
| Quote: |
| Any guess to where that missing thread of yours is? |
I'll give you three guesses and the first two don't count. Any guess as to why you're so preoccupied with it and my use of uppercase?
Suwoner10 concluded:
| Quote: |
It's good that she uphold Korean women's primary image as servants that feel they are obliged to cook...even in space...Korea really must have loaded her up with vital experiments for her to have the time.
Basically, she's no more an astronaut than those rich space tourist guys who pay big $$$ to go up on a Russian rocket. |
BINGO! |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
On the other hand
Joined: 19 Apr 2003
Location: I walk along the avenue
|
| Posted: Thu Apr 10, 2008 8:19 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Quote: |
Now I suppose as an admitted one yourself, you'll take umbrage with that by telling me that just because he doesn't have a religion doesn't mean he is without a faith, or some other gibberish.
|
Just for the record, I don't currently regard myself as an agnostic, and doubt that I have ever identified myself as such on this board. Possible I guess, I tend to jump around a bit on that sort of thing. When asked, I usually just identify as a straightforward theist.
I agree that if you don't believe in God, it makes no sense to pray. But I don't think it's gibberish to say that one can be removed from religion, but still believe in God. That's basically my position. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
mithridates
Joined: 03 Mar 2003
Location: President's office, Korean Space Agency
|
| Posted: Thu Apr 10, 2008 8:46 am Post subject: |
|
|
| endo wrote: |
| Suwoner10 wrote: |
It's good that she uphold Korean women's primary image as servants that feel they are obliged to cook...even in space...Korea really must have loaded her up with vital experiments for her to have the time.
Basically, she's no more an astronaut than those rich space tourist guys who pay big $$$ to go up on a Russian rocket. |
I wouldn't go that far.
Don't you think oter nations pay money to the Americans or Russians to allow their citizens to join the space flight.
In addition, the women went through a competition to get there. Good for her. |
Thank you. First smart post I've seen on the subject so far. All the other threads have been filled with ever-so-witty metal chopstick, kimchi and ramen jokes. Yes, she placed second in a huge nationwide competition, underwent six months of training, learning Russian, conducting experiments during the flight (admittedly light on the science but certainly not what tourist's do) and there's always the possibility of death during the launch or re-entry. Not something a tourist does.
The global space economy is now worth $251 billion, up 11% from last year. There's no reason for any well-off nation not to participate. At present only three countries can send up humans on their own steam, the rest have to cooperate with these three. And only Russia takes payment to send up people, ergo it's the only game in town.
Korea is starting to become serious about space, and will finish it's first rocket-launching pad down in Goheung this year, whereupon it'll be able to launch its own small (100kg) satellites. Baby steps, but very welcome. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
crusher_of_heads
Joined: 23 Feb 2007
Location: kimbop and kimchi for kimberly!!!!
|
| Posted: Thu Apr 10, 2008 8:17 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| redredwine wrote: |
| She opens that kimchi she may get spaced. |
I was watching Arirwrong last night, and they were talking about the bean soup and how they changed it because being in space can lead to bone loss and osteoporosis.
What?
WHAT???
Osteoporosis????
Here's an idea, adjumma vampire hags-loser the cyborg visors and get some sun and that will be the best thing you could do in resisting osteoporosis-for some reason that wasn't part of the news segment. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
nicholas_chiasson
Joined: 14 Jun 2007
Location: Samcheok
|
| Posted: Fri Apr 11, 2008 12:04 am Post subject: |
|
|
| As the skeletal structure is not under load, bones, especially in women, tend to leech calcium for some reason while in space. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
saw6436
Joined: 16 Jan 2003
Location: Daejeon, ROK
|
| Posted: Fri Apr 11, 2008 3:31 am Post subject: |
|
|
| I wonder if she will leave the airlock open? Or, get too hot and open a window? |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
FAQ
Search
Memberlist
Usergroups
Register
Profile
Log in to check your private messages
Log in
