China is to launch its second manned spacecraft Shenzhou-6 next year, a top space official said Wednesday.

Sun Laiyan, director of the China National Space Administration, told reporters China is still considering how long the spacecraft will remain in space and whether one or two astronauts will man the trip.

But his words conflicted with that of a leading scientist of China's manned space program.

Wang Yongzhi, chief architect of China's manned space program,told China Central Television in last February two Chinese astronauts will travel to space on the scheduled flight and the mission will take five to seven days.

"It is the top priority of the Chinese manned space program to ensure the safety of its astronauts in space flights," said the director.

Chinese astronaut Yang Liwei landed safely on earth on Oct. 16,2003 aboard the Shenzhou-5 after orbiting the Earth 14 times on the 21 hour mission.

The successful mission made China the third country after Russia and the United States able to launch people into outer space.