Astronautics has down-to-earth benefits for people's daily lives

MONDAY MARKS THE SECOND CHINA ASTRONAUTICS DAY, which was approved by the State Council, China's Cabinet, last year. For many people, astronautics is something far removed from their daily lives. But space technology benefits our daily lives, too, writes Tian Yulong, a senior official from China National Space Administration in Guangming Daily:

Upon seeing the word "astronautics", people tend to think about rockets, spaceships, space stations, even space exploration plans. They do not view astronautics as something that is part of their daily lives.

That's a misunderstanding of astronautics, as the technologies involved are used by ordinary people every day. A car's Global Positioning System uses satellite technology; when you watch TV, the program signals are transmitted by satellite; even some vegetables in your shopping bags are cultivated in away that was first developed in space.