Wednesday, October 12, 2005
ABC News: Chinese Crew Blasts Off for Space Mission
ABC News: Chinese Crew Blasts Off for Space Mission: "The manned space program is a key prestige project for China's ruling Communist Party, which hopes that patriotic pride at its triumphs will help to shore up the party's public standing amid frustration at official corruption and social problems.
In Beijing, hundreds of people gathered on a plaza outside the Chinese capital's main train station to watch the launch on a giant television screen. Some clasped their hands in anxiety as the rocket surged skyward. "
