According to CNN, the Chinese sent a manned spacecraft into orbit and brought it back safely on Monday, calling it a victory for the Communist Party in China and saying that it completed the first phase of their space program's plan to prove that China could compete in the global scientific community.
Although the spacecraft and equpiment (suits, life-support, etc.) are based on Russian designs, the nut graf of the piece says it all:
The Shenzhou 6 is a modified version of Russia's Soyuz capsule. China also bought Russian technology for spacesuits, life-support systems and other equipment. But space officials say all the items launched into orbit were Chinese-made.
No word yet on whether China's other partner in turning technology into Chinese-made goods -- Wal-Mart -- is working on space expansion plans with the Chinese, although the Chinese have announced a lunar program set for launch in 2006 and a potential moon base in a 2020 timeframe. And once there's a moon base...well, people are gonna need a place to shop, aren't they?
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