Make space for China...
2003-02-14 10:43
Beijing - A leading Chinese space official has confirmed they are going ahead with their first manned space flight this year - despite the United States Columbia shuttle disaster on February 1.
Zhang Qingwei, president of China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation, told the China Daily that all systems were go.
"China put its space programme into place long ago, and it will stick to its schedule without being distracted," he said.
While he did not specify a timetable, the state-run paper said the flight would blast off this year.
Space-programme officials said in January the launch would take place "about October."
It is the first time since the Columbia tragedy on February 1 that a leading Chinese space authority has explicitly promised to forge ahead with the plan of sending astronauts into orbit.
Four unmanned flights
Zhang said: "Technically, there is no direct link between China's manned space programme and US missions, and China has developed an effective quality-control system in rocket and spacecraft manufacturing, launching and scientific research."
So far, China has launched four unmanned spaceflights, the last of which, Shenzhou IV, successfully returned to earth on January 5 after a 162-hour mission.
With a successful manned space flight, China will become only the third country to send a human into orbit after the former Soviet Union and the United States. - Sapa-AFP
- SAPA