China Hopes To Men On The Moon Within 15 Years

DRAGON SPACE

Chinese astronauts Fei Junlong (L) and Nie Haisheng (R) wave to the crowd during a ceremony at the Hong Kong stadium, 27 November 2005. The two astronauts of China's second manned space flight touched down in Hong Kong for a visit aimed at boosting Chinese nationalism amid a brewing constitutional row in the former British colony. AFP photo by Philippe Lopez.

Hong Kong (XNA) Nov 27, 2005
China expects to build up its capacity for manned space missions to build a space station within 10 to 15 years, said Hu Shixiang, deputy commander of China's manned spaceflight project Sunday.

He made the remarks while meeting with chief editors of Hong Kong-based press.

Hu said, China has been developing a new variety of rocket with a carrying capacity three times as much as the present ones for achieving the two targets.

China plans to achieve extravehicular activity by astronauts and locking of spacecraft by 2012, basis for establishing the future space station and even the moon probing, he said.

The 30-strong Delegation of Shenzhou-VI Manned Space Mission arrived here earlier in the day and attended a variety show for welcoming the delegation at Hong Kong Stadium in the afternoon.

Hu said China is a country treasuring friendly relations with neighboring countries. The probing of space is the common target of the whole mankind and China would like to join with people fromnother countries in peaceful use of the outerspace and peaceful development of the mankind.

Source: Xinhua News Agency

DRAGON SPACE

China Plans Ahead With Shenzhou-7 Mission

Hong Kong (SPX) Nov 04, 2005
As Chinese citizens celebrate the success of the Shenzhou-6 mission and the nation basks in international admiration, space officials have already planned ahead with the next Shenzhou flight that will likely carry three yuhangyuans ("astronauts") and include spacewalking activities on the mission manifest.