But Sun Laiyan, Vice Administrator of the China National Space Administration (CNSA), declined to reveal the exact launch date or confirm reports it would occur in mid-October.

"As far as the launch date, it is not very convenient to say too much. We are just saying that the launch will come in the latter half of the year," Sun told AFP.

"Right now, we are actively making all preparations, following our four successful unmanned space flights. We are feeling very confident."

Sun also refused to say whether China's first manned space flight would include one or two astronauts.

"The guesses in the press are only guesses and are not quite accurate," he said, referring to reports in Hong Kong newspapers that are close to Beijing.

Sun was speaking at the ongoing China Centennial Aviation Forum, which he organized in his dual capacity as the secretary general of the Commission of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defense (COSTIND).

Other Chinese officials at the forum confirmed to AFP that the Long March 2-F carrier rocket and the Shenzhou, or Divine Vessel, space capsule had arrived at the Jiuquan Launching Center in northwestern Gansu province and were undergoing final preparations.

"There is a lot of anxiety in this project. There are a lot of risks. We are now undertaking all the preparatory work. What we want to ensure is that the astronaut we send up comes back safely," one official told AFP on condition of anonymity.

"Safety is number one. We have to ensure the quality of the project."

If Shenzhou V proves to be successful, the officials said the secrecy around the space program would likely be lifted and Western journalists would be able to attend launches "in the very near future."

China announced last year that some 12 astronauts were being trained for the flight, and that the group would be first whittled down to three prospective pilots and then a final candidate would be chosen around launch time.

One official at the forum said that China's first-ever astronaut had still not been selected, statements which appear to back up speculation that a decision on who would become the first Chinese national in space would only come on the day of the launch.

"As far as the astronauts are concerned, we have done a lot of training. As for which astronaut will be chosen, that has not been finally decided," the official said.

The 12 candidates are all elite air force pilots, with an average age of 30, height of about 170 centimeters (five feet seven inches) and body weight of approximately 64 kilograms (143 pounds), state press reports have said.

China has so far launched four unmanned spaceflights, the last of which, Shenzhou IV, successfully returned to earth on January 5 after a 162-hour mission and was seen as the final dress rehearsal before a manned spaceflight.

With a successful manned space flight, China would become only the third country to send a human into orbit following the former Soviet Union and the United States.

Meanwhile, space officials said China hoped to launch a space probe capable of orbiting the moon by 2005 or 2006, which would be the nation's first lunar mission and would eventually lead to an eventual landing on the moon by an unmanned Chinese lunar space craft.

SPACE.WIRE