You might remember my entry from September 25 equating the Chinese Shenzhou VII space launch with Capricorn One, the 1978 movie starring OJ Simpson, James Brolin and Sam Waterston. The gist was the Chinese supplied commentary and quotes from the launch a full day before it occurred! In less elegant times we'd call that lying.
It gets better!
Now there's a rumor... a pretty substantial rumor... the Chinese astronauts' space walk was a fake too. Do I know it was faked? Absolutely not. However, I've got a $30 Chinese Rolex on my nightstand. I know you can't take everything at face value. Allow me to be a skeptic because the whole scenario is interesting to say the least.
The charge is instead of sending an astronaut into the void of space the EVA was actually simulated in a pool--a place astronauts often train. The evidence: bubbles!
From Inside China Today. "[O]n October 1, CCTV broadcast "space walk by Shenzhou VII" where on the screen, bubble-like objects were found multiple times, rising slowly before the mask of the astronaut in the weightless conditions of space. There were also some bubbles popping up when the capsule gate opened and they flew obliquely across the top of the screen."
I watched the broadcast on youtube and sure enough at 5:49 a distinct bubble does float away from the astronaut on the right. The whole thing just doesn't look like space--at least not the way it does when American astronauts are out working. Maybe ours are faked?
Epochtimes.com adds to the intrigue by pointing out there are reflections of lights visible on the mirrored surface of the astronaut's space suit. Again, this is plainly visible in the youtube video (and the screencap above).
"More tellingly, rows of lamps were visible in the reflection of mirrors on the astronaut's wrists. At 8 min 41 seconds, the mirror on the astronaut's left wrist showed clearly three rows of lamps with five or six in each row.
The surface of Zhai Zhigang's watch, at 8 min 54 seconds, also reflected the lamp arrays, indicating the light source did exist and was fixed in its position."
Maybe I'm just too skeptical when it comes to the Chinese government. I've taken them to task on my personal blog when they spun the truth pre-Olympics.
So, when the deputy chief engineer of the Beijing Meteorological Bureau says, "Even if the rare extreme weather hits Beijing in August, people will not feel muggy. High humidity will not accompany the hot weather in August because their climax periods are different, " I'd hide the silverware and other valuables.
There's no way for me to know if these rumors are true. A quick Google check shows nothing in the mainstream media nor on usually trustworthy space oriented websites. However, big fires often start after something small begins to smolder.
Stay tuned.
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October 8, 2008 12:30 PM
While I agree that the spacewalk doesn't really resemble the NASA ones, I don't see the issues with the air bubble or the lights. The air bubble travels a lot faster than it would through water. Also, why can't there be lights on the spacecraft to illuminate the scene for the cameras?
If anything, the whole think looked more "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" with hidden wires than underwater.
October 8, 2008 4:40 PM
Curiosly,I can't,for the life of me,find any possible reason why I,or anyone else for that matter should give a crap whether they faked it or not.You want to confront lies and criminal deception in politics?Plenty can be found right here in Amerika.Everywhere from the localtown council all the way to the oval office.Wanna give a $hi# about something,lets replace all these lying bastardos with slighty less lying bastardos.
October 8, 2008 6:39 PM
If they would have faked it, then i am sure that the governments of the USA, UK, France and Russia would have claimed it to be fake! Because you can bet that they are all watching very closely what the Chinese are doing up there in space!
cheers,
paul
October 8, 2008 11:41 PM
I agree with Pauls post, futhermore its as much a fake as the American moon landing
October 9, 2008 12:57 AM
Good Lord. Rumor is rumor. It ends right there. There is no such thing as "substantial rumor". What do you need music with that too?
Stop being jealous of good triumphs. Do better.
And oh, I'm sure the American spy satellites or maybe perhaps the Hubble Space Telescope are shooting pictures too. Why don't you just ask NASA for clarification on the validity of such ridiculous claims.
People...get a life.
October 9, 2008 3:58 AM
Substantial rumor was an inelegant way to put it, John. My point was, this rumor is based on more than a single anomaly. As I said, it's just a rumor--nothing more. However, the Chinese haven't exactly been a font of truth with their space program (and other recent events), so I don't feel quite as bad having a little fun and dignifying this otherwise unsubstantiated speculation.
October 9, 2008 9:53 AM
Why would anyone be surprised if it turns out that the Chinese space walk was faked? Isn't there a recent precedent for this....i.e. are the Chinese astronauts really as old the government has claimed?
These and other burning questions are right up there with the Fed's bailout of financial institutions and who's going to win in November.
After all, inquiring minds really do want to know.....
October 9, 2008 12:22 PM
Amerika? Really?
October 9, 2008 3:08 PM
I saw this very funny cartoon about this...it's at
http://bamcain.blogspot.com/
October 10, 2008 12:59 PM
Um... if it was fake, don't you think countries with satellites and 'spy' systems would have said something?
Like I am sure AMERICA had its spies and everything on China's mission and hoping it would either fail or was a complete HOAX. Nothing.
Just sour grapes and sore losers I think. Shows how stupid some things can get.
October 11, 2008 12:50 PM
It's not faked, the epoch times has it out against china for some reason. Just look at their website. The evidence they give for this being "faked" is very weak.
October 15, 2008 4:59 PM
a gentleman wrote:
"I'm sure the American spy satellites or maybe perhaps the Hubble Space Telescope are shooting pictures too. Why don't you just ask NASA for clarification on the validity of such ridiculous claims."
Even NASA says the spacewalk is fake....Chinese government will deny, brain-washed Chinese won't believe....only outcome is.....Chinese will be more anti-USA.
NASA having no comment on it doesn't mean NASA verifying it.