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History awaits China's 'giant leap'
BEIJING, China (AP) -- Giant leap? What will the first words of China's first person in space be? One newspaper is asking readers for suggestions. "Back in 1969, American astronaut Neil Armstrong stepped on the moon and said this: `That's one small step for a man, a giant leap for mankind'," said Chengdu Business News. "What do people here think the first Chinese astronaut should say?" The paper in western China, quoted by the Web site Sina.com, said it would pick the 10 best entries and send them to the Jiuquan Launch Center in northwestern Gansu province to witness the launch. An editor at the newspaper, who identified himself as Mr. Ying, confirmed the contest to The Associated Press but could not give details. It was impossible to verify the promised prize. However, the notion of 10 random people sent by a provincial newspaper being permitted to attend the launch of a military-linked space capsule in person seems somewhat unlikely. China is scheduled to launch its first human into space in coming days on a craft called the Shenzhou 5, which means "sacred vessel." Various news reports have reported the launch is planned for Wednesday. Armstrong, who commanded Apollo 11 and became the first person to walk on the moon, made his remarks via a flickering live television link shortly after his first lunar steps on July 20, 1969. "That's one small step for a man, a giant leap for mankind," he said. But the first "a" didn't make it back to a billion people watching on television on Earth. Purists have argued about the difference in meaning ever since. Copyright 2003 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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