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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Tuesday, February 03, 2004

Astronauts for 'Shenzhou VI' to begin training next month

Sources reveal that related training of 14 Chinese astronauts will resume this March in preparation for the flight of the "Shenzhou VI" spacecraft.


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Sources reveal that related training of 14 Chinese astronauts will resume this March in preparation for the flight of the "Shenzhou VI" spacecraft.

Since Yang Liwei successfully finished China's first manned space flight in last October, the 14 Chinese astronauts have all along been in a state of rest and reorganization. Their main task is to undertake light physical training and the review and consolidation of their space maneuvering knowledge as well as the assimilation and summation of the actual flight experience gained in the first manned space flight. During the Spring Festival, the astronauts enjoyed their relaxed holiday rarely gained for many years. China's first astronaut Yang Liwei even made his appearance at the CCTV Spring Festival Eve entertainment and blessed the motherland with good wishes at zero hour together with the whole nation.

Beginning from March astronaut training for the "Shenzhou VI" spaceship will be carried out intensely. As learned earlier from Huang Weifen, director of the research office for the selection and training of Chinese astronauts, astronauts for "Shenzhou VI" will continue to use more or less the original training program. But since the biggest difference between the "Shenzhou VI" and "Shen Zhou V" flights is the change from "one man" to "two persons", so corresponding modifications should be made in light of change in the state of two-person, multiple-day" flight during practical training, relevant adjustments should also be made in the "Flight Manual" issued to astronauts.

Based on the factors like disposition, teamwork and complementarities, the 14 astronauts will be assigned to seven two-man teams from which three teams will be selected to form a flight echelon. A two-man team will finally be chosen as astronauts for "Shenzhou VI" ready for launching. Yang Liwei, who splendidly accomplished the task of "Shen Zhou V" flight, is, of course, among the candidates.

Since all the 14 astronauts of the first group are over 30 years old, a selection and training plan of new astronauts for future flights has been drawn up in the main and is expected to be implemented in two to three years.

By People's Daily Online


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