China's astronaut team is to start training in March for the
nation's second manned space flight on Shenzhou VI, reported
Beijing Youth Daily on Monday.
The 14 astronauts have been resting since Yang Liwei, a member
of the team, completed China's first manned space flight in October
last year. They have only done light physical training and reviewed
flight operations.
The training for Shenzhou VI would be mainly based on the
training courses of Shenzhou V, said Huang Weifen, director in
charge of selection and training of astronauts in China. However,
some changes would be made as two astronauts were expected to fly
in Shenzhou VI, Beijing Youth Daily quoted Huang as saying.
The 14 astronauts, including Yang Liwei, will be divided into
seven pairs according to their characteristics and cooperation.
Three pairs will form a new team for China's second manned space
flight and, finally one pair will fly Shenzhou VI.
China has made plans to select and train new astronauts as the
14 astronauts are all over 30. The selection would be conducted in
two or three years, said the newspaper.
(Xinhua News Agency February 3, 2004)