Shenzhou-7 astronauts to meet press today

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-09-24 11:37

JIUQUAN, Gansu -- The crew of China's Shenzhou-7 space mission is scheduled to meet the press at 17:30 on Wednesday.

In addition, the headquarters of China's third manned space mission will hold another press conference at 14:30 Wednesday.

The crew, who will conduct the first Chinese space walk, is waiting for a launch window at Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwestern Gansu Province.

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Depending on weather, the launch is scheduled between September 25 and 30.

The Shenzhou-7 spacecraft will send three Chinese astronauts who will make a historical spacewalk.

Six Chinese astronauts are ready for the mission, three pilots who will finally be aboard and three substitutes.

However, neither the military or the mission's headquarters has officially released their identities, even though many local websites had reported various stories on six favorites.

According to the headquarters' release, three pilots and three substitutes said they were fully confident to successfully accomplish the mission.

After three hours of tests and safety examinations in the last rehearsal on Monday, the mission has been given the green light.

Scientists working for the mission said on Tuesday that the carrier rocket of the spacecraft was ready to be fueled, bringing the launch to the countdown status.