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China Will Launch Yuhangyuan In October
Hong Kong - Sep 16, 2003 China is set to send its yuhangyuan ("astronaut") into space in October with the liftoff to occur by the middle of the month, Wen Wei Po in Hong Kong reports today (Sept. 15). Unidentified sources told the newspaper that the countdown to launch the historic manned Shenzhou-5 mission (SZ-5, Shenzhou means "Divine Vessel" or "Magic Vessel") would enter the one month mark as of today. Chinese space officials have decided that the launch would happen after the week long celebration of the National Day on Oct. 1. However, no specific launch date will be chosen until after the holiday. Unconfirmed information from the Xi'an Satellite Control Centre (XSCC) in Shaanxi Province said that the single-person mission might see its launch on Oct. 10. Both SZ-5 and its Changzheng-2F (Long March-2F) launcher arrived at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre (JSLC) in the northwestern Gansu Province in late August. The two vehicles underwent integration and further testing in a vertical fashion at the massive Vertical Assembly and Testing Building (VATB). JSLC personnel reported that the launch preparation have been going smoothly. Weather conditions at JSLC are good with the feel of autumn already present. By nighttime temperatures are increasingly cools. Chinese space officials have not revealed any information on the number of yuhangyuan who will ride on the mission, the duration of the flight, and whether any science experiment would be conducted on board. According to an unnamed technician at the Chinese Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology (CALT), the manufacturer of the CZ-2F rocket, the selection of the historic crew will come in two stages. When the launch is near, space officials will choose three candidates for the mission. The candidate with the best condition on the day of the launch would receive the honour to become an instant hero in China. Community Email This Article Comment On This Article Related Links SpaceDaily Search SpaceDaily Subscribe To SpaceDaily Express The Chinese Space Program - News, Policy and Technology China News from SinoDaily.com
Taikonauts On Moon A Far Off Dream For China Yet
Beijing (XNA) Jan 05, 2006A one-year lunar fly-by mission may start in April 2007 in China, but a manned flight to the Earth's neighbour may be a long way away, a chief lunar exploration scientist said last night. |
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