About the rocket, astronauts (shouldn't it be "cosmonauts"), and all...
First, I must congregulate the effort of our people. It was truly a wonderful achievement.
Okay, there ends the praise, now let's start the critique.
Let's analyze, what's the "true" purpose of the launch?
I would probabbly conclude this as a political and a diplomatic move rather than a domestic or a scientific one, because the Chinese government can benefit from this event the most:
A. Gain an achievement, which will stablize the general emotion of the people.
B. Create a national hero, the effect is the same as above.
C. Diplomatically showing that China is to the equal of late Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and the United States of America.
D. Establish reputation among Asain nations.
E. Use as advertisement for China's space launch program.
But, obviously, this project had cons, here is a rough list:
A. It's expansive. But since China's growing, it's not really a big problem.
B. It will create a feeling to foreign nations that China is pompous. After all, China is still on foreign aid, although she does not really need it. Other nations would think China as rather aggressive and all..
C. If the project resulted in a disaster, China will ruin her reputation in space program.
So, that's about it. Still, I think the space project is great despite all the effects it created.
