astronaut, cosmonaut...taikonaut. Taikonaut is the Englishfied version of their word for astronaut, taken from the Chinese word for "space." Not quite the same ring as the two others, but.

http://makeashorterlink.com/?G53B22326

I read that as "taLkonaut...

>taLkonaut.

Yeah, me too.

Not quite the same ring as the two others

I agree. It's much better. Even brings up images of Tycho Brahe.

The autor of that piece is not afraid of mixed metaphors:
on the verge of a milestone, one that could pave the way.. I, for one, would not use such a peculiar milestone just for paving

Shenzhou, translated as "divine vessel". Interesting for what I had assumed was officially an atheistic society. Is the translation a little cattywampus?