China to mark success of second manned space flight

Top Chinese leaders are scheduled to attend a gathering Saturday morning to celebrate its successful manned space flight in mid-October.

The leaders are expected to meet two astronauts who orbited the earth aboard Shenzhou-VI and professionals and officials involved in the space program at the Great Hall of the People.

Shenzhou VI lifted off on a Long March 2F carrier rocket from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center on Oct. 12 for a five-day mission carrying astronauts Fei Junlong and Nie Haisheng.

Having two crew on board is a departure from October 2003, when Yang Liwei spent 21 hours on a s mission that made China only the third country after the United States and former Soviet Union to achieve the feat.

Source: Xinhua