Astronauts full of confidence in manned space mission

A group of six Chinese astronauts said here Tuesday that they are full of confidence in China's second manned space mission piloting the Shenzhou-6 spacecraft to be launched Wednesday morning.

"We have confidence and capability to fulfill the glorious task of the motherland and people," said Fei Junlong, one of the six candidates, two of whom will be chosen for the space mission.

"Our utmost wish is to have our national anthem be played in space," Fei said at a press conference in the lobby of the astronauts' apartment of the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center.

When China launched its first man-made satellite in 1970, signals of Dongfanghong (the east is red), a tune in praise of Chairman Mao, were transmitted from space to the Earth.

The six astronauts, Fei Junlong, 40, Nie Haisheng, 41, Liu Boming, 39, Jing Haipeng, 39, Zhai Zhigang, 39, and Wu Jie, 42, met the press behind the glass of separate cells, an arrangement to prevent infection.

Nie and Zhai were also among the final candidates for the country's first piloted space mission in October 2003.

Zhai said that to fulfill the mission, the astronauts must be technologically competent, have excellent psychological quality, and be cooperative and confident in winning victory.

In response to reporters' question, Jing Haipeng said the biggest difficulty they encountered was they could not simulate the zero-gravity environment in space during their training.

"However, we have other ways for intensive training, and we're confident that we can fulfill the manned space mission," he said.

Source: Xinhua