Shenzhou VI set to blast off this morning
(chinadaily.com.cn)
Updated: 2005-10-12 05:42

In addition to learning more about manned space flights, the mission will conduct scientific experiments, including those "involving human participation", Wang Yongzhi, chief designer of China's manned spaceflight programme, said yesterday

China's first astronaut Yang Liwei was confined to his seat in the re-entry module for the 21-hour flight two years ago, meaning the experiments conducted then were without human participation. On Shenzhou VI, however, the astronauts can move from the spaceship's re-entry module to the orbital module to do scientific tests.

China's second manned spacecraft Shenzhou VI is ready for liftoff by the Long March CZ-2F rocket at the launch tower of the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center. Shenzhou VI spacecraft will be carried to the outer space by the Long March CZ-2F rocket. [Xinhua]

"The mission holds out the promise of making more discoveries," Wang said in Jiuquan, adding that China's space programme was developed for peaceful use of space resources.

Xu Dazhe, deputy chief of the China Space and Technology Group, said yesterday: "We are willing to co-operate with other countries in conducting research activities and exploring space resources for the benefit of mankind."

With the Shenzhou VI mission, scientists expect to make further improvements based on the evaluation of the performance of various parts of the current craft, Wang said.

The Shenzhou VI has been made more comfortable and human-friendly compared with the country's first manned spacecraft, where Yang could only nap, and snack on specially-prepared food.

This time, a food heater, dishware and a sleeping bag are available in the orbital module. An excrement-collecting facility is being used for first time, according to Zhang Bainan, chief designer of the spacecraft system.

In addition, the black box of Shenzhou VI is 100 times larger in storage capacity, 10 times quicker in information writing and reading, but only half the size of the previous version.

Spending on the Shenzhou series has reached roughly 19 billion yuan (US$2.3 billion), less than 10 per cent of the annual spending on space programmes in the United States, Pan Houren, a researcher with the Space Science and Application Institute of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, said yesterday.