China's first manned spacecraft Shenzhou V (Divine Vessel V) is expected to be launched later this month and will orbit the Earth 14 times before returning, Shanghai-based Jiefang Daily reported Thursday.
The spacecraft is likely to be launched during the daytime and to be carried by a Long March-II F rocket, the report said. The site of the launch has not been officially announced.
At present, three would-be astronauts have been chosen out of 14 candidates to pilot the mission, and one pilot will be chosen from the final three to man the craft, the report said.
Made up of two coaches and 12 trainees, the 14 candidates are all experienced fighter plane pilots, 1.70 meters tall and weighing 65 kilograms, and have received six years of special training.
In addition, the order among the three would-be astronauts, or who will fill whose vacancies, has also been set, the report said.
But experts added that performances by these would-be astronauts at critical moments would also count in deciding who will go to space.
Before the formal launch of Shenzhou V, China has launched four unmanned spacecraft missions from the end of 1999 to early this year.
Qi Faren, chief designer of Shenzhou V and academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, was quoted in the report as saying that the "Shenzhou III" and "Shenzhou IV," which were launched earlier, were designed identical to the manned spacecraft model in terms of technology.
That is, it can meet the demands of astronauts if they are on board.
Though China could only conduct four manned flight tests because of limited funds, Qi said he and his colleagues were confident about the imminent manned flight.
If the Shenzhou V mission is successful, there would be more plans after that to improve the manned flight project, he said.
In this context, the Shenzhou V mission is going to be a substantial beginning with huge symbolic significance, he added.
Qi also revealed that the back cabin of the Shenzhou V has a diameter of 2.5 meters.
(China Daily October 10, 2003)
