China to Have Female Astronauts

China Radio International reported Monday the country plans to recruit women for its space program with the first Chinese female reaching for the stars in 2010.

The radio report said women will serve as mission specialists for China’s proposed space station, however the piloting of spacecraft will remain reserved exclusively for men.

The next liftoff of China’s Shenzhou manned mission series is scheduled for late 2005 when the country will send two astronauts into orbit.

In October 2003 China became the third country after Russia and the United States capable of space travel.