Date:14/06/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/06/14/stories/2008061453051400.htm

International

Spacewalk mission in October: China

BEIJING: China’s Shenzhou VII manned space mission, which will include the first spacewalk by a Chinese “taikonaut”, is to launch in October, said a spokesman of the China manned space engineering office here. He would not give the exact date of the launch, but said a day would be selected in October.

A crew of six astronauts had been chosen for the mission, with three manning the spacecraft and three substitutes, said the spokesman.

Two of the astronauts on board the spacecraft would prepare for the historic spacewalk, he said. The other taikonaut was expected to carry out scientific experiments, he said.

Scientists had finished the research and assembly of the space craft, he said. The Shenzhou VII will be launched from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in Gansu. — Xinhua