Shenzhou 5 launch expected on October 15
Posted: Wed, Oct 8, 2003, 10:16 AM ET (1416 GMT)
October 15 has emerged as the most likely date that China will launch its first manned spacecraft, according to Chinese media reports Wednesday. According to several reports, Phoenix TV, a Hong- Kong-based broadcaster with close ties to the Chinese government, reported that the launch would take place on the 15th, shortly after the conclusion of an annual meeting of Chinese Communist Party leaders. According to those reports the Shenzhou 5 spacecraft will make just one orbit of the Earth before landing, and will carry just one yuhangyuan, or astronaut, and no scientific experiments save for one kilogram of seeds. The launch will likely be televised live in China, although with little advance warning. Speculation about the impending launch has grown intense in recent days as evidence grew that the manned launch was imminent.
October 15 has emerged as the most likely date that China will launch its first manned spacecraft, according to Chinese media reports Wednesday. According to several reports, Phoenix TV, a Hong- Kong-based broadcaster with close ties to the Chinese government, reported that the launch would take place on the 15th, shortly after the conclusion of an annual meeting of Chinese Communist Party leaders. According to those reports the Shenzhou 5 spacecraft will make just one orbit of the Earth before landing, and will carry just one yuhangyuan, or astronaut, and no scientific experiments save for one kilogram of seeds. The launch will likely be televised live in China, although with little advance warning. Speculation about the impending launch has grown intense in recent days as evidence grew that the manned launch was imminent.| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
|
|
news links
|
|
Monday, April 7
Colorado-made spaceplane, Dream Chaser, nearly ready for liftoff after decades of development
Colorado Springs Gazette — 6:13 am ET (1013 GMT) SpaceX, ULA, Blue Origin land $13.7 billion in national security launches
Orlando Sentinel — 6:11 am ET (1011 GMT) SpaceX targets Monday afternoon for launch of Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg
KSBY-TV San Luis Obispo, CA — 6:09 am ET (1009 GMT) SpaceX Is Still Big Locally
Los Angeles Business Journal — 6:09 am ET (1009 GMT) Canadian firm KA Imaging claims first X-ray image taken in space
Canadian Press — 6:07 am ET (1007 GMT) |
