|
China to achieve spacewalk in 5 years
(Xinhua) Updated: 2006-10-12 15:50
China aims to enable its astronauts to spacewalk in the
next five years, according to a white paper [full text]
on China's space activities issued in Beijing on Thursday.
The white paper, released by the Information Office of the State
Council, says China will conduct experiments on spacecraft rendezvous and
docking.
Sun Laiyan, head of
China National Space Administration, speaks during a news conference on
the nation's space plans in Beijing October 12, 2006.
Xinhua] | Sun Laiyan, administrator of China
National Space Administration, said on Thursday that the launching date of
"Shenzhou VII" would be decided by the progress of the project.
Shenzhou
VII would probably be launched in 2008, said Sun, adding that the astronauts
would conduct extravehicular operations at that time.
"The candidate
astronauts for Shenzhou VII are receiving training, and the final selection will
be made shortly before the launch," Sun said.
With the development of
its space technology, China would be able to send female astronauts, as well as
scientists, philosophers and even journalists into space in the future.
He said China's manned space activities were still at the experimental
stage. When the technologies matured, space tourism might begin.
China
would develop and launch its first lunar probe satellite "Chang'e I" for lunar
science and lunar resources exploration, said Sun.
"The project is
progressing smoothly, and the final assembly of Chang'e I has been completed.
The satellite is expected to be launched in 2007," Sun said.
He said
China had no plans yet to probe Mars, but preliminary ground research had been
conducted by scientists and engineers.
"We hope to conduct a Mars probe
and other deep space exploration through international cooperation," Sun said.
The 8,500-character white paper, the second of its kind since 2000,
outlines the development of China's space industry over the past five years and
its plans for the near future.
Introducing the major tasks of China's
space industry in the coming five years, the white paper describes research on
short-term manned and long-term autonomously orbiting space laboratories and
follow-ups to manned spaceflight.
On November 20 and 21, 1999, China
launched and retrieved the first Shenzhou unmanned experimental spacecraft. It
then launched three more Shenzhou unmanned experimental spacecraft not long
afterwards.
On October 15 and 16, 2003, China launched and retrieved
Shenzhou V, China's first manned spacecraft.
Having mastered the basic
technologies of manned spacecraft, China became the third country in the world
to develop manned spaceflight independently.
From October 12 to 17,
2005, the Shenzhou VI manned spacecraft completed a five-day flight with two
astronauts on board carrying out the country's for space-based
experiments.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Most Commented/Read Stories in 48 Hours |
|
|
|