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China Trains Rescue Teams For Third Manned Space Program
Xian, China (XNA) Aug 01, 2007 Xi'an Satellite Control Center, a major Chinese institution responsible for recovering satellites and spaceships, has started training its rescue and search teams for the third manned space mission, scheduled to be launched in 2008. Yao Liang, head of the center's rescue and recovery team, said their work, which is the last step of a manned space program, includes locating the space capsule that re-enters the earth's atmosphere, rescuing astronauts and transporting the capsule from the landing site to the control center. Yao said initial training started after the Shenzhou VI space mission in 2005 and dozens of workers are being trained for four hours per day. "Compared to the previous two manned space missions, the up-coming Shenzhou VII space mission, which includes a space walk, is more complex. We have been organizing training in accordance with new requirements and learning to operate new equipment on the spaceship and deal with any possible hitches," Yao said. He said the team had recruited more workers as there will be three astronauts on the next spacecraft. Two workers will be assigned to each astronaut. China launched its manned space program in 1999. It successfully sent Yang Liwei, the country's first astronaut, into orbit on the Shenzhou V spacecraft in 2003. Yang spent about 21 hours in orbit. Two years later, astronauts Fei Junlong and Nie Haisheng completed a Chinese record five-day flight on the Shenzhou VI. All astronauts returned to the ground safely. The Shenzhou VII is expected to carry three astronauts in 2008.The astronauts are scheduled to perform work outside the capsule such as installing equipment and "tightening screws".
Source: Xinhua News Agency Community Email This Article Comment On This Article Related Links The Chinese Space Program - News, Policy and Technology China News from SinoDaily.com
China Prepares To Select New Taikonauts
Beijing, China (Xinhua) Jul 19, 2007China's first taikonaut, or Chinese astronaut, in space Yang Liwei says the country is preparing to select a new intake of well-rounded and well-educated potential spacemen from its air force. China has a 14-strong astronaut team. Yang, one of the team and also deputy director of the China Astronaut Research and Training Center, said the number of new trainees will be no more than 14. "The preparation for the selection has begun, and the selection may begin soon, but we have no plans to select woman astronauts yet," said Yang. |
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