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China plans to send three astronauts into orbit for seven days

Posted on: Wednesday, 29 October 2003, 06:00 CST

Text of report by Jane Cai and Josephine Ma in Beijing entitled: "Three astronauts will spend a week in orbit on next mission", published by Hong Kong newspaper South China Morning Post web site on 29 October

China's next manned space mission will send three astronauts into orbit for seven days, according to Xu Dazhe, vice-president of the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation.

"In the next two years, three astronauts will lift off in Shenzhou VI for a seven-day space journey," Mr Xu was quoted by Chengdu Evening News as saying during a trip to Sichuan on Monday [27 October]. "The launch may occur ahead of that schedule, if our current progress is an indication."

Mr Xu headed the corporation's mission to prepare for the liftoff of Shenzhou V at Jiuquan launch centre. He was in Sichuan this week inspecting the preparations for the manufacturing of Shenzhou VI components by Sichuan Aerospace Industry Corporation.

Yang Hong, one of the designers of the Shenzhou V spacecraft, said yesterday: "There will be more astronauts [next time]. They will spend more time in space and they will engage in more activities in space."

Although the Shenzhou V's orbital module was designed as a simple space laboratory, China's first man in space, Yang Liwei, stayed in the re-entry module during his 21-hour voyage.

Yang Hong said the major goal for the next mission was to test China's ability to put more men in space for a longer period.

"Facilities will be improved. For example, [the astronauts] will take more oxygen, food and drinking water, which will require design adjustments to the ship's carrying capability and waste treatment system," said Mr Yang, a specialist with the Chinese Academy of Science and Technology.

"Astronauts will take off their suits during the journey and lead lives similar to those they lead on the ground," he said. But there were no plans for the astronauts to take space walks, he said. Mr Yang said China was capable of making the adjustments necessary for a more complicated mission.

Shenzhou V was designed for three astronauts and a maximum period of seven days in space, he said. But the number of astronauts and the time they would spend in space was not yet finalized.

China may yet decide to send only two astronauts for a shorter mission.

Although the officials put the time frame for the next launch at two years, observers widely expect China will launch its next mission next year.

Mr Xu was quoted by Sichuan media as saying the technology level of Shenzhou was similar to Russian's Soyuz spacecraft.

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