[FPSPACE] First Chinese launch

[Igor Lissov]

Mark,

> I guess being in another medium it doesn't count as 'real' because it
> isn't in writing. But since CCTV is a state-run medium, I don't know
> why it should be doubted....

You obviously haven't seen much of Russian state-run TV.
You'd know many new really fantastic facts. I know that
Chinese news sources are not *so* awful as ours but 
they may err too.

If the 16 Nov 1969 event was indeed an unsuccessful
Changzheng 1 launch, I'd like to know the date of 
first Dongfeng 4 launch. It is not reasonable to 
launch the three-stage launch vehicle with satellite
before the two-stage IRBM version.

By the way, in http://www.astronautix.com/astros/tsien.htm between two
dates of 17 May 1958 and 1 June 1958 an event is listed dated June 1956. 
I've seen cases where this date is copied by authors without any doubts.

Igor Lissov