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China to Develop Manned Spacecraft Next Five Years
A Chinese expert said in Beijing February 6 that China plans to develop several "Shenzhou" manned spacecraft in the next five years to finally realize the historic breakthrough in manned aerospace technology early this century by sending Chinese astronauts into space.
Xu Fuxiang, president of Chinese Academy of Space Technology said that the academy would take up the task of research and development of several "Shenzhou" spacecraft.
Hu Hongfu, vice-president of China Aerospace Science and Technology Cooperation said that after several unmanned experiments, China would make efforts to send its astronauts into space early this century.
This means that China will realize the manned spaceflight goal in the near future, thus becoming the third country in the world that can send astronauts into space. Last month, China succeeded in launching and retrieving the "Shenzhou II", the second attempt after the successful launch of "Shenzhou I" in 1999.
China Aerospace Science and Technology Group, one of China's ten military industry groups, is responsible for the research of manned spacecraft and carrier rockets. Chinese Academy of Space Technology is a subordinate under it.
Hu Hongfu said that the manned flight must ensure the safety of astronauts and it must be utterly reliable. The former Soviet Union conducted five experiments before it sent its astronauts into space and America tested eight times and so China should also conduct a number of tests.
China has succeeded in solving a great number of key problems in technology with many new techniques and technologies mastered since it initiated the manned space project in 1992.
Xu Fuxiang said that China is going to develop and launch 30 more manmade satellites in the coming five years in the field of communication, navigation, meteorological, resource, marine, environment and disaster-monitor, astronomy, space-exploration and others, that will overtake the former in quantity, function and quality.
By the end of last year, China launched 48 satellites, of which eleven and a spacecraft had been done in the last five years.
China will speed up the development of its spaceflight to meet the needs of the national economy, defense construction, development of science and social progress, thereby placing China at a relatively forward position in the world.
By PD Online Staff Li Yan
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