China to launch Shenzhou 6 in one or two years ( 2003-10-16 11:37) (chinadaily.com.cn)
China will launch Shenzhou-6 spacecraft in one or two years, said Xie
Mingbao, director of the China Manned Space Engineering Office, Thursday.
At a press conference Thursday morning after Yang Liwei, China's first space
man, landed safely in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, Xie noted that
China had launched four Shenzhou spacecrafts in the past four years, or once
every year on average.
"So I think that on the basis of well summing up the experience of the
successful launch of the Shenzhou-5 manned spacecraft, the country will send its
next Shenzhou craft in one or two years," he added.
He continued that China has no plan to develop space shuttle.
Turning to the decision by China Central Television not to broadcast live the
launch of Shenzhou V, Xie said that for China's space program administrators
safety of the astronaut and the spacecraft was more important.
He said: "we don't think that the TV live broadcast has any direct bearing on
the success of our spaceflight."
"What we really care is to do a good job in launch organization, achieve more
technological breakthroughs and do a better job in quality control of the
spacecraft, which is key to ensuring a complete success of the mission," said
Xie.
Meanwhile, he added, China's space workers have always "had full confidence
in success".
The Chinese government has in all allocated 18 billion yuan (US$2.2 billion)
to its manned space program by the time of successful return of the Shenzhou-5
space vehicle Thursday morning, according to Xie.
The fund was mainly used for scientific research, manufacturing of equipment
and instruments, the construction of essential facilities for research and
tests, and consequently a system complete with all necessary departments of
research, production and test related to manned spaceflight was
established.
China is willing to cooperate with other countries in space exploration on
the basis of equality, said Xie.
He noted that China is willing to learn from the United States and Russia in
developing space technology, and cooperate with any other country that treats
China as its equal partner for mutual benefit, he said.
China has been developing its high-tech space technology, which have
benefited the country's various basic industries, according to
Xie.
