After long preparations, China now has several aeronautic projects in gear.

Examination will be conducted for "Shenzhou-6" manned spacecraft in the autumn of 2005, which aims at a five-day space tour for two astronauts. The preparation for "Chang' E 1" moon-orbiting project has already gone into the final stage and part of the system has started practice.

Yuan Jiajun, head of the Chinese Academy of Space Technology (CAST) disclosed that China's "Shenzhou-6" spacecraft is designed for a seven-day in-orbit flight for three astronauts. The experiment, to be held in the autumn of 2005, with two astronauts but not one on board, will be crucial to examining the whole manned spacecraft. One-person flight is not challenging enough to the system. Increased load will cause major changes in the heat load, moisture production of the astronauts, partial pressure of air and oxygen in the respiration module, the distribution of the partial pressure of carbon dioxide and toxic gas, which are a significant test for the spacecraft's environmental control and life safeguard systems.

Manned space flight is a highly risky scientific project. One spacecraft is equipped with over 600 facilities, more than 120 computer chips and over 80, 000 links, all of which allow no lapse anywhere.

As Yuan said, the first-stage goal for "Chang' E 1" is to realize a moon-orbiting flight in 2007. Now the program designing has entered the final sprint.

By People's Daily Online