'They Are Real Heroes' -- China Salutes Columbia Astronauts

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Monday, February 03, 2003

'They Are Real Heroes' -- China Salutes Columbia Astronauts

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He Yanling, a middle school teacher,took her daughter to a science and technology museum in Beijing on Sunday morning, the day after the space shuttle Columbia disintegrated, killing all seven astronauts on board.

"Those who devote themselves to science are real heroes," said the teacher, recalling the Challenger crash in 1986 which killed her American colleague Christa McAuliffe, a New Hampshire teacher.

"Scientific research was accomplished with blood and lives," Hetold her daughter in front of a statue of Wan Hu, "we shall cherish every advancement made by human beings in scientific exploration."

China has produced its own heroic scientific explorers. Confucian scholar named Wan Hu is known as the world's first man to attempt rocket-propelled flight. In the 14th century, he strapped himself into a wooden chair with 47 rockets attached. Helit the rockets, hoping that they would propel him into the sky. Tragically, a huge explosion put an end to his beautiful dream.

In memory of Wan, a mountain on the moon was named after him.

The tragedy of the space shuttle Columbia occurred in the midstof China's most important festival, Spring Festival, or the lunar Chinese New Year which fell on February 1st this year.

Chinese people ranging from the president to ordinary citizens and from scientists to young students, offered their condolences and respect to the seven astronauts killed in the space shuttle Columbia which came apart over Texas on Saturday.

Chinese President Jiang Zemin, on behalf of the Chinese government and the Chinese people, sent a message to US President George W. Bush on Sunday to express his deep condolences over the tragedy and for the loss of its seven-member crew.

Jiang expressed his belief that mankind will forge ahead in space exploration in spite of the tragic event.

The Chinese President also sent a message to Israeli President Moshe Katsav to express his condolences over Israel's loss of its first astronaut.

"The astronauts will never return home, but we are enjoying a family reunion," sighed Yang Jizhong, a newspaper vender.

The Columbia broke up Saturday over central Texas shortly before its scheduled landing at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

"I'm shocked. It reminds me of the Challenger," said Li Beilin,who learned of the disaster from a temple fair newsstand. "Their (the astronauts') families must be in deep sorrow. They have my sympathy."

Qi Zaikang, a professor of aircraft engineering with Beijing University of Science and Engineering, noted that failures and setbacks of this type were relatively common in scientific research.

"Failure is the mother of success. The ultimate sacrifice made by the astronauts will have even more meaning if the failure provides some lessons," he said.

Liu Dachun, assistant to the president of the People's University of China, expressed confidence that human beings will not abandon their dreams and future exploration projects.

"Human beings have made important sacrifices, including their own lives, to learn about nature and the universe," he said, "but we will not abandon our exploration."

Chinese Internet surfers were interested in the Columbia disaster, making hundreds of comments on-line as the event unfolded.

"Exploring space is the common aspiration of all human beings,"wrote a netizen, "Setbacks or difficulties cannot hold us back. Let's salute the heroes who have sacrificed their lives for science."

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Chinese People Express Sadness at the Death of Columbia Astronauts

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