'Shenzhou V' Manned Spacecraft to Be Launched This Autumn

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Wednesday, February 19, 2003

'Shenzhou V' Manned Spacecraft to Be Launched This Autumn

China has been training 14 fighter pilots to be astronauts and this autumn will become the world's third nation to send people into space by the Shenzhou V spacecraft, which is being assembled by the time being. The mission is likely to be made in November, but exactly when would depend on whether the spacecraft was ready and the weather was right.

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"China will soon realize its dream of manned spacecraft, at a time expected around November, 2003", a person responsible for China's manned spacecraft project told media recently. "As for the exact launching date, it depends on the weather and the general condition of the spacecraft. Besides, it should also take into consideration the space environment upon the craft's return, such as ground temperature, solar activities and space radiation".

Now the "Shenzhou V" has entered a stage of general assembling and testing, with most scientific equipment to be on board having been checked and accepted, added the person in charge.

After four times of testing flights, the seven sub-systems of "Shenzhou V", namely, the astronauts system, application system, manned spacecraft system, carrier rocket system, launching cabinet, control and monitoring system and landing ground, are becoming perfect day by day. The spacecraft sees installation of safety chairs specially designed to help astronauts to cope with the acceleration of gravity in the process of launching, as well as the return system, which enables the craft to return automatically to the planned landing area in case of emergency.

Now the state has sought out 14 astronauts, but only one or two of them can finally take part in the maiden manned flight. According to requirement, these astronauts are all under 30 years of age with a flying time of over 1000 hours, and they all enjoy a stature of 1.7 meters, weighing 65 kg. Besides, different from previous unmanned crafts, "Shenzhou V" will see less experiment equipment and instrument on board to spare more room for astronaut's activities and their task of scientific observation.

Now the Chinese astronauts are undergoing intense training courses so as to calmly cope with ordeals during the launching and returning processes such as overweight, weightlessness, high temperature, high radiation and noise.

What's more, the spaceflight suits for the astronauts have been completed, each weighing about 10 kg, at a cost equivalent to a luxury car, and the more than 20 kinds of China-made space food have also reached the set standard.

By PD Online Staff Member Li Heng

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