Twelve Chinese space experts were honored Thursday for their outstanding contributions to China's first manned space flight on Oct. 15-16.

The experts included Huang Chunping, chief commander of the launch vehicle system, Liu Zhusheng, chief designer of the launch vehicle, known as the Long March 2 F, and Qi Faren, chief designer of the spacecraft system.

Six deputy chief commanders or designers of the rocket and spacecraft systems and two leading experts in charge of the propulsion system of the spacecraft and its command system were also honored.

At a rally held by the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corp (CAST), the maker of the rocket and spacecraft, 20 divisions and 100 employees from the corporation were also commended for their performance in the country's manned space program, which was launched in 1992.

Addressing the rally, Zhang Qingwei, general manager of the corporation and deputy chief commander of the program, said the country's successful manned space flight was the result of the endeavors of all researchers and engineers involved in the program and their predecessors.

Chinese space experts have solved technical problems universally acknowledged by the international aerospace community as the most sophisticated one after another in the past decade, scoring many technological breakthroughs, and acquiring some core technologies of its own, said Zhang, a 42-year-old rocket expert.

About 10,000 space experts and engineers from the corporation have been involved in the space program.

With 103,000 employees, the corporation is specialized in research and development of spacecraft, satellites, carrier rockets, strategic missiles, and some civilian goods.

China's first astronaut Yang Liwei was conferred the title of "Space Hero" on Nov. 7 at an official, high-profile rally celebrating the country's first manned space flight.

Yang, 38, was also awarded a badge of honor for his space faring merits at the rally organized by the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC), the State Council and the Central Military Commission.

At the rally attended by top leaders of the country and several thousand others, Jiang Zemin, chairman of the Central Military Commission, presented the certificate of "Space Hero" and the badge to the astronaut.

China announced its plan to develop and launch a space lab and station in the coming years the day after its first astronaut returned to Earth safely.

(Xinhua News Agency November 20, 2003)