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北京大学英语新闻网/Peking University News
PKU Students Hail Successful Launch
of Shenzhou V
By Chen Hong
PKU NEWS 2003—10--16-
http://ennews.pku.edu.cn/news.php?s=71740892
Peking University, Beijing, Oct.16, 2003: The students of Peking University excitedly
celebrated the launch and the return of China‘s first manned spacecraft Shenzhou V.
China's first manned spacecraft, the Shenzhou V, blasted off from the Jiuquan
Satellite Launch Center in the northwestern province of Gansu at 9 a.m. Beijing Time
October 15 and returned safely at 6:23 a.m. the next day. China has become the
third country in the world, which can independently carry out the manned space
activities. The students of Peking University were extremely inspired and excited by
this great achievement and expressed congratulations and respect to the astronauts
and specialists by a variety of means.
On the morning of Oct.15, around 40 students gathered to watch the whole process
of the launch via TV broadcast and then had a heated discussion. A student from
College of Economics said, ―The successful launch of Shenzhou V marked the
breakthrough of China's manned space project and exhibited our increasing national
strength. We young students are proud of it and decide to make greater endeavors to
construct our country. ‖ Another student from Department of philosophy said, ―I
deeply understand the tough work and life of the spaceflight specialists because my
father was one of them. We should never forget the people who have contributed to
China's space mission development.‖
At the same time, many students came to the Triangle Spot and signed their names
on a red streamer expressing their congratulations to the successful launch of
Shenzhou V. Some foreign students also took part in this activity, and one of them
said, ―The launch is an important achievement of people all over the world.‖
The famous professor Jiao Weixin from School of Earth and Space Science of
Peking University was invited to give a lecture to students titled ―the development
history of manned spaceflight and the mission of Peking University‖ on the evening
of Oct.16. He first introduced the contributions Peking University had made to our
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