1、1 The term “taikonaut” for Chinese astronaut was popularized by an independent Chinese spaceanalyst, Chen Lan, who operates the “Go Taikonauts” unofficial Chinese space websitehttp:/ According to Mr. Chen, otherChinese terms for astronaut are “yahangyuan,”“hangtianyuan,” and “taikogren.” Congression
2、al Research Service The Library of CongressCRS Report for CongressReceived through the CRS WebOrder Code RS21641Updated January 31, 2006Chinas Space Program: An Overviewname redactedSpecialist in Aerospace and Telecommunications PolicyResources, Science, and Industry DivisionSummaryThe Peoples Repub
3、lic of China successfully completed its second humanspaceflight mission on October 17, 2005. China is only the third country, after Russiaand the United States, able to launch people into space. Its first human spaceflight wasin 2003 when a single astronaut, or “taikonaut,” made a flight lasting sli
4、ghtly less thana day. The 2005 flight lasted five days, and involved two taikonauts. As the UnitedStates embarks upon President Bushs “Vision for Space Exploration” to returnastronauts to the Moon by 2020 and someday send them to Mars, some may viewChinas entrance into the human exploration of space