posted on Sep, 24 2003 @ 03:37 AM
A month-long countdown to the launch of China's first astronaut began on Monday, according to reports. Unnamed space program officials told the Hong
Kong newspaper Wen Wei Po that the historic flight would take place shortly after the week-long celebrations that mark the anniversary of communist
rule. These begin on 1 October. The exact date will not be decided until about a week before the launch, the officials said. They also disclosed that
the Shenzhou spacecraft will carry a single Chinese astronaut into space. The chosen "taikonaut" will be selected from a group of three candidates
shortly before launch. China has so far launched four uncrewed Shenzhou spacecraft in preparation for its first crewed mission. Both Shenzhou V and
the Long March 2F rocket that will carry it into space have been installed at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre in Gansu, northwest China. If
successful, the mission would make China only the third nation to launch humans into space, after Russia and the United States. The first taikonaut in
space will become a national hero. The Chinese government believes the feat will be a source of great international prestige and also bring
technological and industrial benefits.