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China delays space mission to ensure safety
By Zhao Huanxin (chinadaily.com.cn)
Updated: 2006-03-05 15:43 Safety and reliability, rather than time, is a
priority when it comes to China's first space walk mission, now scheduled for
2008, according to a top aerospace official.
"We are doing a host of
experiments centred on extra-vehicular activities of Shenzhou VII, which will
carry three astronauts," Deputy Chief Commander of China's Manned Space
Programme Zhang Qingwei told China Daily on Sunday in an exclusive
interview.
In preparation for the spaceflight, Chinese scientists are
building a "water pool" and a weightless environment testing facility to train
astronauts for extra-vehicular activities, Zhang said.
Usually, mission
specialists receive extra-vehicular activity training in a large water pool,
wearing a simulated space suit, according to space experts.
It will take
some time for the country to complete various tests and trials, including those
on space suits for a space walk, to ensure its third spaceflight will succeed in
a one-time set, Zhang said.
"To secure the reliability (of the
technological changes to be made for Shenzhou spacecraft) as well as safety of
astronauts, it is worthwhile for us to spend more time ... and readjust our
initial plans," he said.
The spacecraft is no different in terms of size
and shape when compared with Shenzhou VI, which was launched last October with
two astronauts orbiting the earth for five days, Zhang
said.
The success of Shenzhou VI has prompted speculations that
China will launch Shenzhou VII to stage its third manned mission and first space
walk in 2007.
Zhang said that the Shenzhou VII will probably be launched
sometime in 2008.
Huang Chunping, a chief consultant for China's manned
launching vehicle system, echoed Zhang's remarks, saying that he expected
the mission will be conducted in the second half of 2008.
The delay is
for improving space suit and the orbital module of the spacecraft. The
improvement will be completed next year, he told China Daily on
Sunday.
Both Huang and Zhang did not specify how many days the Shenzhou
VII voyage will last.
All the trio astronauts to fly Shenzhou VII will be
selected from the same pool of 14 fighter-jet-turned pilots from which China's
first three astronauts -- Yang Liwei, Fei Junlong and Nie Haisheng -- were
chosen, he said.
Although there will be no on-board engineers on Shenzhou
VII, the country's subsequent space flights will increasingly involve such
scientists, Zhang said.
"After we have tackled technologies regarding
extra-vehicular activities and the docking of a manned craft with an orbital
capsule, we will need many on-board scientists (for future space flights)," he
said.
The official said earlier that with the development of China's
manned space programme, the country will increase scientific research in
orbit.
Scientists, including women experts specializing in medicine, new
materials, biology and other disciplines will all have the chance to go abroad
with astronauts, he said.
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