Whoops! China touts success of space launch before takeoff

It's got to be Murphy's Law that once a reporter publishes a trend story, an even better example of that trend is destined to come along. So it was that a real doozy came to light only days after I published a collection of the top Web-publishing gaffes. And this one takes the cake:

Click image to view our collection of Web news publishing gaffes, including the time Vice President Dick Cheney's obituary made its way onto the Web.

(Credit: TheSmokingGun)

A nice little story hit the Web Thursday talking up China's long-awaited space mission and even including detailed dialogue between the astronauts, according to the Associated Press. Only problem was that the spacecraft hadn't even left the ground at the time the story came out.

The story was published by Xinhua, China's official news agency, in an apparent moment of clairvoyance. It was taken down after being up on Xinhua.com most of the day, the AP said.

A staffer at the agency later told the AP that the article, which had been dated September 27, was a "technical error."

The Shenzhou 7 mission, which is expected to feature China's first-ever spacewalk, did in fact take off successfully later Thursday (at least we think so--articles on the launch all cite Xinhua as their source).

But let's hope Xinhau at least comes up with some fresh quotes from the astronauts, maybe even ones that were actually said.

[jag0]

"Technical error" my ass...it's standard business as usual Chinese policy.

[as901]

Why not? If Bush can fly to Iraq and back, twice as fast as is possible in Air force One, China can time travel!

In other words, lies are a politicians stock and trade these days!

[Vegaman_Dan]

"I can see my house from here!"

"Of course you can, you haven't left yet."

[Commander_Spock]

Commander_Spock to "Vegaman_Dan: It's sure good to see you are very much still around.... How about getting the Chinese "astronauts" to give us a commentary about what is happening on Wall Street and other parts of the world; from that elevation it is quite possible that they can give us a much "clearer" and "better" futuristic picture than you can give us from your "house". Should Commander_Spock says - he told you (and the rest) so!

[Commander_Spock]

Oops: "say" instead of "says"!

[Skip676]

Are you sure that those clever Chinese haven't discovered time travel?

[limefan913]

LOL!

Pwnt.

[walshie69]

Lead on paint of Dora and Thomas Tank Engines toys...
Melamine in Milk....
Fake Astronauts Stories...
Is it me or we all just ignorant to the fact that who really knows what you get when you buy anything from CHINA

[dilyb]

Sounds like that Steve Jobs story a while ago where an obitiuary was published for him. I guess it's possible that they prestage the article to prepare for when it happens so as to get it out as fast as possible. (they would only have to maybe change the quotes)

[kibeom]

ROTFL!

[BlutoNYC]

If they are that good in reporting the future, how about doing us a favor and report this Saturday's Lotto numbers?

[Commander_Spock]

Beat this - "f they are that good in reporting the future" Have them report on what will be the impact on the U.S. and the rest of the world's economy of the $700 Billion (or should it be $700 Trillion) that those on Capitol Hill cannot seem to figure out! Duh!

[battlefella]

In China I wouldn't be surprised if the Lotto numbers are pre-generated by the government before they actually are drawn, so yes, this would be possible :)

[gggg sssss]

Commander Spock - be careful what you wish for. The Hong Kong Savings Bank, HSBC, is ready to buy control of key US facilities at the drop of a hat. All from the profits on cheap DVD players and tainted food. Keep them the heckl away

[AppleSuxLeo]

Does their space-food contain melamine ???

[cg504]

Check for typos. It's Xinhua, not Xinhau....

[badinoff]

I call foul on this one.

Apparently the truth is that one of Xinhua's junior staff found the story in a fortune cookie that he was served at a local lunch counter.

That makes it pretty much a legitimate news story.

I can't wait to see if the astronauts actually have the same conversation pre-reported Xinhua. What a scoop!

[Seaspray0]

Sponsored by the same government that couldn't provide the internet to reporters during the olympics!

[Commander_Spock]

I am tell you all that the OS/2 Warp Operating System Is Not Dead; and, NASA and the Russian Space Federation had better watch out. You might soon be "out maneuvered" and out numbered by the Chinese. Now, where is that recording of this "future" scenario that happened yesterday. :-D

[Commander_Spock]

Re: "where is that recording of this "future" scenario that happened yesterday."

So now you see, "All Your Base (Space Stations and Shuttles) Are Belong To Us (Chinese)! :-D

[hassan_bin_sober]

They should go back to doing what they do best. ...Making roast duck and firecrackers!

[Dr_Zinj]

This isn't a mistake, it's human engineering taken to its ultimate level.

[hawkeyeaz1]

The quotes were err, will be said! They are scripted.

[sythara]

Every agency of every country prepares news articles before the event happens on major news stories. For China, space launch is a big deal even if we don't see it that way.

In this instance someone just posted it accidently, but hey things happen and people make blunders.

Imagine how it would be if Nixon's Apollo 13 loss speech that was recorded before the craft even reached the moon would have leaked while the craft was still out there?

People make mistakes, this one happens to be funny.

[harry200x]

Why all the information in USA about China is bad? There are so many good thing you can choose from. I like USA as I have lived here for a long time. What I can't stand is the stand point of USA's media. When you are criticizing on China's media why don't you try to think about yourself. Is it really true for public media to have so much presupposed prejudice?

Harry Wang

[gggg sssss]

because the truth is there really is NOTHING good about China. Cheap slave labor made DVD players do not count.

[gdmaclew]

By the way Harry.
Predudice means "presupposed".
Thank you.