China, which last year became the third nation to blast a man
into space, plans to send two astronauts up on a five-to-seven-day
mission in 2005 and later build a space station, China Central
Television (CCTV) reported
on Saturday.
Wang Yongzhi, chief designer of the nation's manned space
program, told CCTV preparations for the launch of the two-person
Shenzhou VI craft were proceeding smoothly.
Last October, solo astronaut Yang Liwei circled Earth 14 times
during a 21-hour trip aboard the Shenzhou V, a name meaning "Divine
Ship."
"We will continue by launching Shenzhou VII, Shenzhou VIII and
so on, carry out space walks, make space dockings and set up a
space laboratory," Wang told CCTV.
He said astronauts would stay aboard the orbiting lab for short
periods, with spacecraft ferrying them back and forth. Eventually,
China would launch a larger space station capable of carrying out
more extensive experiments, he said.
China's team of 14 trained astronauts, including Yang, have been
placed in seven pairs to train for the next mission and three of
the pairs will be finalists to fly it, Xinhua news agency said
early this month.
China is also preparing to select and train new astronauts as
the current ones are all over the age of 30, Xinhua said.
Wang's remarks were broadcast just a day after he and another
scientist received China's annual State Science and Technology
award from President Hu Jintao, along with a cash prize of five
million yuan ($605,000). ?
(China Daily February 22, 2004))
??