China Still to Decide Who Goes Into Space

China has chosen three candidates for its first-ever manned space mission, and their performances “at critical moments” in the runup to next week’s expected launch could decide who will get the single spot in orbit, an official newspaper reported Friday.

Some media reports have said the mission could begin Wednesday. On Friday, one Web site claimed the astronaut would be armed for protection from animals and other threats after landing.

The Chinese government hasn’t identified any of the would-be astronauts who are being considered for the historic flight.

A successful mission would make China only the third nation after the former Soviet Union, now Russia, and the United States to send manned craft into space. The first Chinese in orbit is certain to become a hero at home; China’s space program has long been a closely guarded secret but also a vehicle for patriotism.

The English-language China Daily said a field of 14 trainees had been narrowed. While the three candidates have been ranked in order of preference, outside factors could still affect the final choice.

“Performances by these would-be astronauts at critical moments would also count in deciding who will go to space,” the paper said, citing unidentified experts.

With the launch expected within days, details have begun filtering out through the state media and government-approved Web sites.

The popular Sina.com reported that handguns, knives and other “defensive weapons” will be stored aboard the capsule as a precaution against landing in hostile environs.

Astronauts “will be able to deal with wild beasts, sharks and other dangerous animals or enemies,” it reported.

State media have reported the Shenzhou 5 capsule will blast into space aboard a Long March CZ-2 rocket from the Gobi Desert launch base at Jiuquan in western China. Media have heaped praise on the expected event as a sign of China’s growing strength and modernity. While public interest is difficult to gauge, it seems that interest is growing.

Conflicting reports in the state media have generated some confusion over the details of the planned launch, although several reports have said it would take place Wednesday.

Earlier this week, state-run television and other media reported the flight would be a single-orbit, 90-minute flight. However, the Shanghai newspaper Liberation Daily reported Thursday that the craft would orbit earth 14 times.

Sina.com didn’t give a launch date but said the craft would blast off during daylight and would return to earth by 6 p.m. Thursday, using enormous parachutes to set down on the plains of Inner Mongolia.

The astronauts have been described as experienced fighter pilots, about 5 feet, 8 inches tall and weighing about 140 pounds. They have been given the English nickname “taikonauts,” after “taikong,” the Chinese word for space.

China Daily said they include 12 trainees and two instructors, all of whom have had a minimum of six years of special training.

In recent years, China has launched four unmanned missions as preparation for taking a human aboard the Shenzhou 5, whose name means “Divine Vessel.”

With space fever rising, one newspaper in southwestern China is asking readers for suggestions on what the first Chinese astronaut in space should say. The Chengdu Business News said it would pick the 10 best entries and send the contestants to the Jiuquan Launch Center in the northwestern province of Gansu to witness the launch.

It was impossible to verify the promised prize, but it seemed unlikely the government would allow 10 readers chosen by a provincial newspaper to attend the launch of a military-linked space capsule.

Emphasizing the space program’s strong ties to the military, army music and dance teams are producing a music video entitled “Soaring” to commemorate Shenzhou’s launch, the Communist Party’s official People’s Daily reported.

“‘Soaring’ will act out the romantic feelings and pioneering spirit of the 1,000-year quest of the sons and daughters of China,” said a brief article beside a picture of an actress in a shiny, form-fitting body suit with the Chinese flag emblazoned on her chest.