SPACE WIRE
China's manned space flight to last just 90 minutes on October 15: reports
BEIJING (AFP) Oct 08, 2003
China's first manned space mission will make a single orbit of the earth in a flight that lasts just 90 minutes on October 15, reports said Wednesday.

Xie Guangxuan, an engineer who headed the unmanned Shenzhou III mission, said that the Chinese would follow the example of the former Soviet Union and the United States when they made their maiden manned flights in the 1960s, the Oriental Morning News reported.

When Russian Yuri Gagarin became the first human in space in 1961, his flight lasted 108 minutes aboard Vostok 1. Days later American Alan Shepard spent just 15 minutes on a suborbital flight.

Xie was quoted as saying the Shenzhou V flight would last around 90 mintues.

"As far as I know concerning the testing and check ups, all preparations for the launch of the Shenzhou at present are going smoothly," said Xie.

Analysts have tipped October 15 for the Chinese launch and state-run Phoenix TV, broadcast from Hong Kong, quoted reliable sources Wednesday as confirming this was the preliminary date.

"Relevant sources said that upon close examination of the weather and other important elements, the preliminary launch date of the Shenzhou V has been set for October 15," Phoenix said in a report.

If the mission succeeds, China will become only the third country to send a man into space.

Four unmanned Shenzhou capsules have so far been been launched in preparation to the manned mission since 1999.

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