Cosmic blessings

To attract more public attention to China's space missions, the Chinese Society of Astronautics recently cooperated with Hanwang Technology Co Ltd, China's leading IT provider, to sponsor a "Blessing the Shenzhou VII spacecraft" for the September spacewalk.

Beginning last August, the project collected about 60,000 encouraging messages from both home and abroad, and carried them with the Shenzhou VII spacecraft into space. Hanwang donated its most advanced e-paper reader to collect the messages from the public.

"The messages accompanied the three astronauts during the four days (September 25-29) in space," says Li Guangya, deputy secretary of China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology.

Thanks to Hanwang's IT support and its advanced technology, China's self-designed space technology has been better promoted, Li tells China Business Weekly. "It is a milestone. In the future, modern information technology will contribute more to the development of China's space technology."

An e-paper or e-book reader is a small reflective electronic device that can be easily read in bright sunlight or dimly lit environments while being able to be seen at virtually any angle-like paper. Its black and white ink-on-paper look, combined with a resolution in excess of most portable devices looks similar to newspapers. Various companies around the world have developed different versions since about 2004. Hanwang's was the first on a Chinese space mission, says the company.

The blessing project drew the interest of hundreds of thousands of people from the ages of 74 to 4 and from several different countries including Germany, United States and Great Britain. "It also encourages the national passion for China's space technology," Li adds.

According to Liu Yingjian, president of Hanwang Technology Co Ltd, the Hanwang e-paper reader is similar to traditional paper format, but is smaller, has a long reading time and anti-jamming characters, helped the three astronauts and the good wishes both from home and abroad.

"I, together with my families, have paid close attention to the Shenzhou VII spacecraft for these four days. I feel proud that China has become the third country to independently conduct a spacewalk," wrote Dong Zhiqiang, a 37-year-old Chinese soldier, in his message on September 29.

British well-wisher Brian Clark wrote "Hope the three Chinese astronauts successfully finish the extravehicular activities. Your remarkable activities will better promote the world's space technology."

"Space technology is always seen like a significant part of a country's comprehensive national strength. To speed up its development, it is our social responsibility to contribute our force," Liu says.

"It is a hard process," however, Liu points out, adding that it is also Hanwang's honor for its IT products to become a part of China's space technology.

According to Wang Bangjiang, general manager of Hanwang's e-paper reader products department, the company will continue to cooperate with the Chinese Society of Astronautics to promote better research and development works in space and on earth.

"Supporting China's space technology will be Hanwang's long-term strategy in the future," Wang says."We hope during the next space flight, Hanwang can provide better products, which can record and carry flight instructions, blessing messages, and especially some entertainment for the astronauts," Wang adds.

(China Daily 11/10/2008 page8)