China took a step forward in its space programme at 9am on Oct 15 when, with the entire nation watching, its first manned space flight Shenzhou V blasted into space. Every Chinese was elated and Jiuquan city in Gansu province, the closest place to the launch centre, became the focus of global attention.
For any Chinese or Asian, the successful launch of Shenzhou V is doubtless a cause for jubilation. A developing Asian nation has become a space power and joined the elite club of nations that have sent man into space.
Like thousands of overseas Chinese students, I was flushed with pride over this historic moment for China. But when the euphoria was over, the question that struck me was： What should we really be cheering about？
Let's take a look back at history.
In April 1961, Russian cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin marked the first chapter in manned space flights in human history by becoming the first man to orbit the Earth for seven days.
In July 1969, American astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin landed on the moon. Many will still remember vividly Armstrong's now-famous comment when he first stepped down on the lunar surface： “one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind”。
Admittedly, with the intense Cold War rivalry between the Soviet Union and the United States, the glory of such achievements was somewhat diluted by the strong element of space competition between the two superpowers.
Military competition can, of course, quicken the pace of development in space technology. The significance in the difference between a small step and a giant leap provides much food for thought.
While Chinese should rightfully be proud of Shenzhou V, they need to understand that it is development that is peaceful, forward-looking and unlimited that China should take pride in. The determination to continue China's space exploration should be motivated by the desire to make peaceful progress and not narrowed-minded nationalism.
Technological spin-offs from growth in the space industry should not be overlooked either. Yes, China has grown in national strength but its people should realise that the road ahead is a bumpy one when the celebration is over.
The challenge for the Chinese is to be able to always hold their heads high, not just momentarily. This requires them to focus on practical, rather than symbolic significance as well as rational thinking.
Further development in space exploration by mankind calls for cooperation between countries. The launch of Shenzhou V has made China the third country in the world to have a successful manned flight. Perhaps this could help promote the “spirit of cooperation”。 Space is the ultimate frontier of human exploration and its far-reaching impact is on the entire human race, not just confined to a particular country or a few scientists.
Cooperation and development are both crucial. The issue for the Chinese is not only how to develop, but also how to work hand in hand with other countries. At the same time, willingness by other countries and regions to work together with China is equally important.
If, for some political reasons, they chose to ignore the significance of Shenzhou V's success or refuse future cooperation, it would be a sad day for mankind's efforts in space exploration.
Now that the euphoria is over, perhaps everyone should cool down and ask what he or she should do next.
2003年10月15日上午9時(shí),中國(guó)人在載人航天發(fā)射上終于邁出了自己的第一步,神舟五號(hào)在萬眾矚目之下升空,全中國(guó)為之沸騰,全世界聚焦甘肅酒泉。沒有疑問,對(duì)任何中國(guó)人、亞洲人而言,神舟五號(hào)的升空是值得驕傲和自豪的。
一個(gè)亞洲的發(fā)展中國(guó)家向世界展示了太空力量的崛起,世界尖端技術(shù)的勢(shì)力圖呈現(xiàn)了不同的畫面。我同千千萬萬的留學(xué)生一樣為之雀躍,為之歡呼；然而激情之后,我靜下來問自己：我們究竟應(yīng)該真正為什么而歡呼？
1961年4月12日,蘇聯(lián)宇航員加加林乘坐東方一號(hào)航天船繞地球一周,譜寫了人類載人航天發(fā)展的首頁(yè)。1969年7月20日,美國(guó)宇航員尼爾。阿姆斯特朗和巴茲。奧爾德林乘阿波羅11號(hào)飛船登月成功。阿姆斯特朗踏上月球說的第一句話讓人記憶猶新：“這是我邁出的一小步,卻是人類邁出的一大步?！?BR> 誠(chéng)然,在蘇聯(lián)和美國(guó)劍拔弩張的冷戰(zhàn)時(shí)期,這樣的成就固然是載人航天發(fā)展技術(shù)譜寫的樂章,但我們必須承認(rèn)這樣的樂章所帶有的強(qiáng)烈太空競(jìng)爭(zhēng)色彩影響了它的輝煌程度。
無可否認(rèn),軍事競(jìng)爭(zhēng)可以帶來航天技術(shù)的快速發(fā)展。這一小步與一大步之間那不大不小的一步的意義似乎耐人尋味。
因此,當(dāng)全中國(guó)人為神舟五號(hào)而驕傲的時(shí)候,必須要明白,我們所驕傲的發(fā)展是和平的、前進(jìn)的、深入而沒有局限性的。中國(guó)人所應(yīng)該具備的是繼續(xù)和平發(fā)展的決心,而不是將自己的民族主義思想狹隘化。
此外,航天技術(shù)的發(fā)展所推動(dòng)的其他科學(xué)技術(shù)的連鎖發(fā)展也是不容忽視的。中國(guó)的國(guó)力是強(qiáng)大了,但是中國(guó)人所應(yīng)當(dāng)歡呼的該只是過去的發(fā)展和輝煌,明天的路仍然是一條坎坷的路。
揚(yáng)眉吐氣只是一時(shí)痛快,但要怎樣才能把眉揚(yáng)得更高,氣吐得更長(zhǎng)就是該剖開象征意義,看清實(shí)際意義和理智思考的問題了。
人類的宇航發(fā)展需要在各國(guó)之間尋求互補(bǔ)和完善。神舟五號(hào)的發(fā)射改變了世界航空發(fā)展的格局,也許可以將“合作精神”上升到一個(gè)更高境界。探索宇宙的確是世界的終極前沿,探索宇宙的深遠(yuǎn)意義所影響的范圍并不只是某一個(gè)國(guó)家某一些科學(xué)家,而是整個(gè)人類。
合作和發(fā)展都至關(guān)重要,因此作為中國(guó)人,所應(yīng)當(dāng)思考的問題將不僅僅是如何發(fā)展,還有將如何共同發(fā)展。
而與此同時(shí),其他國(guó)家和地區(qū)的合作精神也至關(guān)重要,如果出于政治因素而故意忽略這次航天發(fā)展的實(shí)質(zhì)意義或不參與之后的合作,那將是人類航天的巨大缺憾。
激情過后,大概所有人都該冷靜下來,明白自己到底該做點(diǎn)什么。
For any Chinese or Asian, the successful launch of Shenzhou V is doubtless a cause for jubilation. A developing Asian nation has become a space power and joined the elite club of nations that have sent man into space.
Like thousands of overseas Chinese students, I was flushed with pride over this historic moment for China. But when the euphoria was over, the question that struck me was： What should we really be cheering about？
Let's take a look back at history.
In April 1961, Russian cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin marked the first chapter in manned space flights in human history by becoming the first man to orbit the Earth for seven days.
In July 1969, American astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin landed on the moon. Many will still remember vividly Armstrong's now-famous comment when he first stepped down on the lunar surface： “one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind”。
Admittedly, with the intense Cold War rivalry between the Soviet Union and the United States, the glory of such achievements was somewhat diluted by the strong element of space competition between the two superpowers.
Military competition can, of course, quicken the pace of development in space technology. The significance in the difference between a small step and a giant leap provides much food for thought.
While Chinese should rightfully be proud of Shenzhou V, they need to understand that it is development that is peaceful, forward-looking and unlimited that China should take pride in. The determination to continue China's space exploration should be motivated by the desire to make peaceful progress and not narrowed-minded nationalism.
Technological spin-offs from growth in the space industry should not be overlooked either. Yes, China has grown in national strength but its people should realise that the road ahead is a bumpy one when the celebration is over.
The challenge for the Chinese is to be able to always hold their heads high, not just momentarily. This requires them to focus on practical, rather than symbolic significance as well as rational thinking.
Further development in space exploration by mankind calls for cooperation between countries. The launch of Shenzhou V has made China the third country in the world to have a successful manned flight. Perhaps this could help promote the “spirit of cooperation”。 Space is the ultimate frontier of human exploration and its far-reaching impact is on the entire human race, not just confined to a particular country or a few scientists.
Cooperation and development are both crucial. The issue for the Chinese is not only how to develop, but also how to work hand in hand with other countries. At the same time, willingness by other countries and regions to work together with China is equally important.
If, for some political reasons, they chose to ignore the significance of Shenzhou V's success or refuse future cooperation, it would be a sad day for mankind's efforts in space exploration.
Now that the euphoria is over, perhaps everyone should cool down and ask what he or she should do next.
2003年10月15日上午9時(shí),中國(guó)人在載人航天發(fā)射上終于邁出了自己的第一步,神舟五號(hào)在萬眾矚目之下升空,全中國(guó)為之沸騰,全世界聚焦甘肅酒泉。沒有疑問,對(duì)任何中國(guó)人、亞洲人而言,神舟五號(hào)的升空是值得驕傲和自豪的。
一個(gè)亞洲的發(fā)展中國(guó)家向世界展示了太空力量的崛起,世界尖端技術(shù)的勢(shì)力圖呈現(xiàn)了不同的畫面。我同千千萬萬的留學(xué)生一樣為之雀躍,為之歡呼；然而激情之后,我靜下來問自己：我們究竟應(yīng)該真正為什么而歡呼？
1961年4月12日,蘇聯(lián)宇航員加加林乘坐東方一號(hào)航天船繞地球一周,譜寫了人類載人航天發(fā)展的首頁(yè)。1969年7月20日,美國(guó)宇航員尼爾。阿姆斯特朗和巴茲。奧爾德林乘阿波羅11號(hào)飛船登月成功。阿姆斯特朗踏上月球說的第一句話讓人記憶猶新：“這是我邁出的一小步,卻是人類邁出的一大步?！?BR> 誠(chéng)然,在蘇聯(lián)和美國(guó)劍拔弩張的冷戰(zhàn)時(shí)期,這樣的成就固然是載人航天發(fā)展技術(shù)譜寫的樂章,但我們必須承認(rèn)這樣的樂章所帶有的強(qiáng)烈太空競(jìng)爭(zhēng)色彩影響了它的輝煌程度。
無可否認(rèn),軍事競(jìng)爭(zhēng)可以帶來航天技術(shù)的快速發(fā)展。這一小步與一大步之間那不大不小的一步的意義似乎耐人尋味。
因此,當(dāng)全中國(guó)人為神舟五號(hào)而驕傲的時(shí)候,必須要明白,我們所驕傲的發(fā)展是和平的、前進(jìn)的、深入而沒有局限性的。中國(guó)人所應(yīng)該具備的是繼續(xù)和平發(fā)展的決心,而不是將自己的民族主義思想狹隘化。
此外,航天技術(shù)的發(fā)展所推動(dòng)的其他科學(xué)技術(shù)的連鎖發(fā)展也是不容忽視的。中國(guó)的國(guó)力是強(qiáng)大了,但是中國(guó)人所應(yīng)當(dāng)歡呼的該只是過去的發(fā)展和輝煌,明天的路仍然是一條坎坷的路。
揚(yáng)眉吐氣只是一時(shí)痛快,但要怎樣才能把眉揚(yáng)得更高,氣吐得更長(zhǎng)就是該剖開象征意義,看清實(shí)際意義和理智思考的問題了。
人類的宇航發(fā)展需要在各國(guó)之間尋求互補(bǔ)和完善。神舟五號(hào)的發(fā)射改變了世界航空發(fā)展的格局,也許可以將“合作精神”上升到一個(gè)更高境界。探索宇宙的確是世界的終極前沿,探索宇宙的深遠(yuǎn)意義所影響的范圍并不只是某一個(gè)國(guó)家某一些科學(xué)家,而是整個(gè)人類。
合作和發(fā)展都至關(guān)重要,因此作為中國(guó)人,所應(yīng)當(dāng)思考的問題將不僅僅是如何發(fā)展,還有將如何共同發(fā)展。
而與此同時(shí),其他國(guó)家和地區(qū)的合作精神也至關(guān)重要,如果出于政治因素而故意忽略這次航天發(fā)展的實(shí)質(zhì)意義或不參與之后的合作,那將是人類航天的巨大缺憾。
激情過后,大概所有人都該冷靜下來,明白自己到底該做點(diǎn)什么。