JIUQUAN, Gansu: China's timing for its first manned spaceship flight will be decided in line with conditions in orbit, the craft's needs for orbital movements and working conditions and ground control needs.

Zhou Jianping, chief designer of China's spaceship launch centre system in Jiuquan, Northwest China's Gansu Province, said a mathematical model has been constructed after "careful calculations."

China has announced a "Projection Window" for the orbital launch, saying that it will occur between October 15-17.

Officials indicate some conditions are critical to the launch decision. First, the spacecraft should be positioned in orbit with its solar panels facing the sun to ensure adequate energy supply.

Second, an angle must be selected to prevent direct irradiation of infrared sensors that are used to measure the earth.

"It is very difficult to satisfy all these requirements simultaneously," Zhou explained. "The room is very small for choosing the 'window'."

Xinhua

(China Daily 10/14/2003 page1)