YM COLUMN ARCHIVE

October 1, 2008

Shenzhou 7 safely returned to earth with success of extravehicular activity

On September 28, I went to visit National Museum at Ueno, Tokyo, to see the exhibition “Cultural Heritage of Sri Lanka”. I had my ticket punched at the entrance of “Hyokeikan Hall” of the Museum and just about entered the exhibition hall when my cell phone rang the melody of “sweet home” in my pocket. “What a bad timing!” sooner than I thought so, a female staff of the hall was running toward me to tell not to use the cell phone in there. “Yes, yes” I said knowingly and ran back to the entrance to answer the phone and there was an old familiar voice of Matsunaga-san, NHK reporter (Japan Broadcasting Corporation).

“Oh, I’m glad to get hold of you. The thing is that China is going to do extravehicular activity this evening, and so want to ask a favor of your coming to the studio.” “Eh? I thought you are no longer in charge of space affairs.” “No, I’m not but we treat it as a general news.” “I see, but I just wanna see Sri Lank exhibition now.” “Is that so, but we have some leeway.” “I’m in sweat shirts now, I just can’t go to NHK in this.” “Then we will send the car right there, so please come to NHK via your house.” This is how I hurriedly went around to see the exhibits of Sri Lank historical heritage. I was abducted forcefully as usual.

Chinese manned space flight for the third time came back to the earth on September 29 after accomplishing every scheduled program. I could enjoy seeing the whole extravehicular activity through all the little details in a NHK studio, thanks to abduction. The scene of astronaut Zhai Zhigang’s appearing out of the hatchway was very much impressive. We have to welcome ways to space are getting diversified. At the same time as I was giving my comments at NHK, I noticed myself getting sad and sad why Japan do not seriously tackle with manned space flight.

Be that as it may, astronaut Zhai Zhigang came back into the cabin in fifteen minutes after showing performances such as waving Chinese national flag, recovering the container of solid lubricant attached outside spacecraft from before the launch and by so doing he was carefully holding onto the guide-rail to wander about the spaceship. Shenzhou 7 boarding three crews safely returned to the earth at 6:40pm on September 29 (JST) after completing sixty-eight hours mission. This means that China has concluded the first stage of manned space flight by China’s own schedule. The second stage is to build small space laboratory by which to learn docking technique and the third is to construct large-scaled space station. The small space laboratory of the second stage is to be built in 2010. You can see many photos on website pages in the URL:

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-09/28/content_10128407.htm

It’s a kind of maddening but please see them. It may be the same kind of ball players’ feeling to watch a celebrating toss of the manager of victory team.

The mission project like manned space flight can’t be realized without top-down decision. Some may place a great expectation on the space strategic headquarters headed by prime minister under the Basic Space Law. As far as I know up to now, they seem to be loudly discussing only militarization of space and revival of GX rocket, and they never seem to be appealing, just like a general tendency of recent political world, their mettle how to make a historical contribution as an economic power based upon realistic recognition of present status of the world and mankind. I would like to sincerely expect the ad hoc committee, to be soon established, to make a real space strategy from the broad and long-term point of view. I am personally determined to foster, through joint efforts with many of you, youth of next generation full of hardiness, intellect and ambition. It looks very dangerous to me to place all hope on government administration judging from the current political situation.

I welcome your opinions on this column to the following E-mail address.
matogawa@planetary.or.jp