This is some of the best news I've seen in some time pertaining to mankind's extraterrestrial endeavors. Short version: China successfully sent a single pilot into space. Read below for more details about why I really like this.
The reason that this is good news for me is that I think that China's entry into space will hopefully spur another space race between the US and China. In the absence of Russian competition, the Americans have been very lazy about getting out into space. It's not as if the Americans don't have the means or know-how to significantly advance space technology and exploration -- it's just that they have lacked the will for lack of competition.
Given the Chinese cultural attention paid to reputation and appearance, I don't imagine that the Chinese will be content to send a man to space and leave it at that. From the NYT article above, it appears that the Chinese are ready and willing to challenge American space dominance in not just military applications, but also in scientific applications and exploration. I imagine that they will be a tenacious competitor and be willing to throw lots of resources in pursuit of space dominance.
Given that space currently plays a large part in American military and economic power (think spy satellites, GPS, communications), the United States cannot allow China to advance into space uncontested. I imagine that with today's news, space has jumped back to the forefront of the minds of American planners and policy-makers.
I'd like to salute the Chinese for their ambition and say "Let the race begin!"
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