spacetoday.net: Manned Shenzhou launch expected by mid-October

Posted: Tue, Sep 16, 2003, 5:56 PM ET (2156 GMT)
Long March 2F launches Shenzhou 4 (Peoples Daily)

China is expected to launch its first manned spacecraft by the middle of next month, according to Chinese media reports. An article in Monday's issue of the Chinese-language Hong Kong newspaper Wen Wei Po reported that the launch of Shenzhou 5 would take place in one month. No specific launch date has been announced by Chinese officials, who told official state media that the launch preparations were proceeding smoothly, with a launch planned "within the next few weeks or months." Previous reports had speculated that the launch would take place around or shortly after National Day, October 1, although past reports had also suggested that the launch could be delayed until November.