主题：【文摘】词穷的杨利伟 -- 宁子

The successful launch and return of the Divine Vessel 5 inspiredlions of Chinese. Nothing epitomizes better the national pride and glory in history than a manned space flight. Historic moments of course can only be recorded by historic statements. Perhaps the most famous of all is from the American astronaut Neil Armstrong in 1969 during the first Apollo moon landing, when he said:

"One small step for man, one giant leap for mankind."

Well, there are also uncharacteristic statements that are also interesting and of equally historic value. The only statement attributed to man’s first astronaut Yuri Gagarin during his historic flight from Russia in 1961 was:

"Flight is proceeding normally. I am well."

23 days later, the depressed Americans tried something sar, with American Astronaut Alan Shepard riding a Redstone rocket launched into a suborbital flight that lasted just 15 minutes. What the Americans lacked in speed, they made up in surprise. The surprise took place actually before the rocket was launched. The most memorable moment of American astronautic history, of which its importance can be matched to Yuri Gagarin’s flight, came when Alan Shepard said,

"You heard me. I've got to pee."

And he did! And he did it in a way reminiscent of a 3 month old baby!

Here is an excerpt from an article that describes Alan Shepard’s Freedom Seven flight:

"At T-15 minutes it was necessary to hold the count again to make a final check of the real-time trajectory computer. A small electrical part had a problem and this resulted in an hour and twenty six minute delay. Shepard was on top of the Redstone for so long now that he had to urinate. "Gordo!" he said, talking to Gordon Cooper, a fellow Mercury Seven astronaut and principal prelaunch communicator. "Go, Alan." "Man, I got to pee." "You what?" "You heard me. I've got to pee. I've been up here forever."

Shepard wanted to be let out but there wasn't time to reassemble the White Room. Thinking that he could be up there for hours, he told them he was going to do it in his suit. Unfortunately, there was no urine collection system and the medics were concerned he would short-circuit the leads. "Tell 'em to turn the power off!" Alan snapped. Cooper, with a chuckle in his voice said, "Okay, Alan. Power's off. Go to it."

Shepard couldn't hold back any longer and the liquid pooled in the small of his back. His heavy undergarment soaked up the urine, and with 100 percent oxygen flowing through the suit he was soon dry. The countdown resumed...."

The first American space flight was forever remembered as "You heard me. I've got to pee."

-- dgateway,