China to launch manned space flight next week

Saturday, 11 October 2003 12:00 AM

China will launch its first manned space mission next week, the official Xinhua news agency reported Friday.

An unnamed official told the agency the flight would launch from the Gobi Desert between October 15 and 17 and would orbit the Earth 14 times, taking 21 hours.

"The Shenzhou (Divine Vessel) V spacecraft will carry out the first manned space mission and will lift off from the China Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre," said the official.

"Now all preparatory work for the launch is progressing smoothly."

Analysts suggested next Wednesday was the favoured blast off date, coming a day after the Third Plenum of the ruling Communist party's Central Committee concludes in Beijing.

If the mission is successful, China will become only the third nation to have sent an astronaut into space.

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