CHINA> National
Space technology helps Olympics ceremony soar
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-08-09 00:22

Engineers also equipped the control system with a "black box" to help technicians detect and repair any problems as quickly as possible.

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"The technology support system of the opening ceremony was a challenge as big as a spacecraft launch," said Zhou. "There was no room for error."

Space experts also contributed. They developed a computer system for scheduling that could monitor every step of the three-and-a-half-hour ceremony and alert the directors to the upcoming one in advance.

China sent its first manned spacecraft into space in October 2003 and will launch the third one in October.

"Science and art are two sides of a coin," said Zhou. "I believe more space technology will be applied in civilian sectors and benefit people in their daily lives."

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