China will launch three astronauts this month to dock with an orbiting experimental module, and the crew might include its first female space traveler, a government news agency said Saturday. <\/p>\n
A rocket carrying the Shenzhou 9 spacecraft was moved to a launch pad in China's desert northwest on Saturday for the mid-June flight, the Xinhua News Agency said, citing an space program spokesman. <\/p>\n
The three-member crew will dock with and live in the Tiangong 1 orbital module launched last year, Xinhua said. The government has not said how long the mission will last. <\/p>\n
Xinhua cited Niu Hongguang, deputy commander-in-chief of the manned space program, as saying the crew \"might include female astronauts.\" <\/p>\n
The government said in 2010 that two female air force pilots had joined the astronaut program but has disclosed no other details. <\/p>\n
China's space program has made steady progress since a 2003 launch that made it only the third nation to put a man in space on its own. Two more manned missions have followed, one including a space walk. <\/p>\n
China completed its first space rendezvous in November when the unmanned Shenzhou 8 docked with the Tiangong 1 by remote control. Tiangong 1 was launched on Sept. 29. <\/p>\n
Over the next few days, scientists will test the Shenzhou 9 spacecraft, the Long March 2F rocket and ground systems, Xinhua said, citing the spokesman. <\/p>\n
During the flight, one crew member will remain aboard the Shenzhou 9 \"as a precautionary measure in case of emergency\" while the others enter Tiangong 1, Xinhua said. <\/p>\n
China has scheduled two space docking missions for this year and plans to complete a manned space station around 2020 to replace Tiangong 1. At about 60 tons, the Chinese station will be considerably smaller than the 16-nation International Space Station. <\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Originally posted here: <\/p>\n
Report: China Plans Manned Space Launch This Month<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" China will launch three astronauts this month to dock with an orbiting experimental module, and the crew might include its first female space traveler, a government news agency said Saturday. A rocket carrying the Shenzhou 9 spacecraft was moved to a launch pad in China's desert northwest on Saturday for the mid-June flight, the Xinhua News Agency said, citing an space program spokesman. The three-member crew will dock with and live in the Tiangong 1 orbital module launched last year, Xinhua said. Continue reading