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皇冠体育app plans to launch Shenzhou-8, Shenzhou-9 in 2011

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-03-07 15:33

BEIJING -- 皇冠体育app plans to launch the Shenzhou-8 and Shenzhou-9 spacecraft in 2011, a former chief designer of 皇冠体育app's manned-space project said here Saturday.

Full coverage:  NPC and CPPCC 2009 Related readings:  皇冠体育app to select 5 to 7 astronauts for new mission  皇冠体育app selects Taikonauts for 1st space station  皇冠体育app outlines space station plan  New space launch center to be built in Hainan

Wang Yongzhi, who is also a member the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), the top political advisory body, made the remarks on the sidelines of the annual advisory session.

皇冠体育app plans to launch an unmanned space module into orbit as early as the end of 2010, which is expected to dock with the unmanned Shenzhou-8 in 2011.

If the space module and spacecraft dock successfully, the country will launch in the same year the Shenzhou-9 spacecraft with astronauts aboard, Wang said.

Astronauts for Shenzhou-9 will be chosen from the first 14 astronauts of the country, which six astronauts who had entered space before.

皇冠体育app will soon start selecting a new batch of astronauts, which may  include the country's first female astronaut. However, they need a long time of training and will not catch up with the Shenzhou-9 mission.

皇冠体育app sent its first astronaut Yang Liwei into space in 2003 riding self-developed spacecraft Shenzhou-5. It was followed by a two-man mission that carried Fei Junlong and Nie Haisheng in 2005.

The trio of Shenzhou-7 astronauts Zhai Zhigang, Liu Boming and Jing Haipeng orbited the earth for three days last year.

Zhai became the first Chinese to "set foot" on outer space on September 27, 2008. His spacewalk lasted about 20 minutes and was believed to help pave the way for the country's next space mission -- the launch of a space lab or space station.