China preps manned flight for space docking
Reuters
2012-03-07
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This is the Shenzhou 9 spacecraft, which China plans to launch some time in summer to dock with the Tiangong 1 space module.
(SOUNDBITE) (Mandarin) DEPUTY COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF OF CHINA'S MANNED SPACE PROGRAMME, NIU HONGGUANG, SAYING:
"The plan is to launch Shenzhou 9 sometime between June and August. It will conduct manned meeting and docking exercises with the Tiangong 1 target spacecraft, which is in space now."
The spacecraft will carry three astronauts, and it will be the first time for China that a manned spacecraft connects with the Tiangong 1 space module.
Here, prospective astronauts can be seen training underwater.
China successfully carried out its first unmanned docking exercise between Shenzhou 8 and Tiangong 1 last November - a milestone in the rising power's plans to secure a long-term foothold in space.
China aims to have a fully fledged space station by around 2020, but is still some way from catching up with established space superpowers the United States and Russia.
Nick Rowlands, Reuters
(SOUNDBITE) (Mandarin) DEPUTY COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF OF CHINA'S MANNED SPACE PROGRAMME, NIU HONGGUANG, SAYING:
"The plan is to launch Shenzhou 9 sometime between June and August. It will conduct manned meeting and docking exercises with the Tiangong 1 target spacecraft, which is in space now."
The spacecraft will carry three astronauts, and it will be the first time for China that a manned spacecraft connects with the Tiangong 1 space module.
Here, prospective astronauts can be seen training underwater.
China successfully carried out its first unmanned docking exercise between Shenzhou 8 and Tiangong 1 last November - a milestone in the rising power's plans to secure a long-term foothold in space.
China aims to have a fully fledged space station by around 2020, but is still some way from catching up with established space superpowers the United States and Russia.
Nick Rowlands, Reuters
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