Chinese Space Industry 中国太空产业

[big-dog]

China starts manufacturing third lunar probe

Updated: 2012-03-13 19:51

(Xinhua)

BEIJING - China has begun designing and manufacturing the flight model entity of its third lunar probe, Chang'e-3, according to the administration of China's lunar probe project.

As a key part of the second step of China's three-phase lunar probe projects, the Chang'e-3 mission has entered the flight mode phase from prototype phase, according to a statement from the State Administration of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defence (SASTIND) on Tuesday.

The third probe will carry a lunar rover and other instruments for land surveys, living conditions assessment, and space observations.

Chang'e-3 is scheduled to be launched in 2013. Its predecessor, Chang'e-2 was launched on October

Earlier last month, China published a full coverage map as well as several high-resolution images of the moon captured by Chang'e-2, which are the highest-resolution photos of the entirety of the moon's surface thus far.

Also in the SASTIND statement, China has started the comprehensive construction of its high-resolution earth observation system.

China will begin to develop a new-type satellite for the construction of the system from 2013. The system is expected to be set up around 2020, said the statement.

As one of China's 16 major scientific projects set in its national outline for scientific and technological development (2006-2020), the system will be used to provide information service and policy-making support for fields such as modern agriculture, disaster prevention and reduction and public security.

source

[big-dog]

China picks two female astronauts for space mission

Updated: 2012-03-25 10:28

(chinadaily.com.cn/Shanghai Daily)

China has selected two female astronauts among seven candidates for its next manned space mission that will be launched between June and August.

Three Chinese astronauts, also known as taikonauts, will be chosen from the candidates to fly aboard the Shenzhou-9 spacecraft that will manually dock with Tiangong-1, an orbiting module of the country's planned space station, and conduct scientific experiments, said Li Wei, deputy designer for spacecraft systems with the China Aerospace and Technology Corporation.

The two female astronauts, whose identity will be released before the launch, were selected from 15 women who must be married and have given birth naturally, Space International magazine under the China Academy of Space Technology said Saturday. They also must have no scars nor body odor.

Pang Zhihao, deputy editor-in-chief of the magazine, said: "They even must not have decayed teeth because any small flaw might cause great trouble or a disaster in space."

Pang said a scar might open and start bleeding in space and the cramped conditions would intensify body odor.

Xu Xianrong, a professor with the General Hospital of the PLA Air Force, said the female astronauts must be married and have given birth naturally because that ensures their body and mental condition are mature enough.

Meanwhile, Pang said female astronauts tend to be more "keen and sensitive with better communication skills than their male counterparts."

He added women were also good at dealing with relationships with their space partners, which would be an important quality on a long mission such as a trip to Mars.

The former Soviet Union sent the world's first female astronaut, Valentina Vladimirovna Tereshkova, into space in 1963.

The seven candidates for the Shenzhou-9 were picked from fighter pilots. Another 45 astronauts, 15 female and 30 male, were selected as backups, Li said.

source

[everywhere]

China launches new remote-sensing satellite
(China Economic, May 11)

China successfully launched the remote-sensing satellite Yaogan XIIII Thursday from Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center in the northern province of Shanxi, according to a press release from the center.


The satellite was carried into space aboard a Long March 4B carrier rocket which blasted off at 3:06 p.m. Beijing time, according to the center.


The satellite will be used to conduct scientific experiments, carry out surveys on land resources, monitor crop yields and help with natural disaster-reduction and prevention.


The Long March 4B carrier rocket was produced by China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation. Thursday's launch is the 162nd mission of Long-March-series carrier rockets.


Along with Yaogan XIIII, a tiny satellite named Tiantuo I was also sent into orbit during the flight.


The satellite, weighing only 9.3 kg, will be mainly used for data reception for the satellite-based vessel Automatic Identification System, optical imaging and various space exploration experiments in orbit.

[everywhere]

Launch will boost Beidou
(China Daily, May 17)

Satellites part of plan to make navigation tool global by 2014


China will launch another three satellites for the Beidou system, the country's global positioning and navigation network, enabling it to provide a free positioning, navigation and time service for customers in the Asia-Pacific by the end of the year.


Meanwhile, the system is expected to be adopted by some of China's neighboring countries in the next year or two, an official said.


"The trial service of the Beidou system shows it can provide a high-quality regional service," said Ran Chengqi, director of the China Satellite Navigation Office, at the third China Satellite Navigation Conference, which opened in Guangzhou, capital of Guangdong province, on Wednesday.


By 2020, Beidou will have more than 30 satellites, allowing it to compete with the GPS system operated by the United States, Ran said.


"Many of China's neighboring countries, such as Pakistan and Mongolia, have shown strong interest in the system," Ran said.


"Technical discussions are under way, and hopefully Beidou products can enter these markets in one to two years."


Academic discussions and exhibitions showing Beidou's latest navigational and industrial applications will be held during the conference, which runs from Wednesday to Saturday. Around 1,500 experts and officials from countries including the United States, Russia and Japan are expected to attend the meeting.


Beidou currently has 11 satellites, and the positioning precision has reached 10 meters in most parts of the Chinese mainland. Its performance will improve after three more satellites are launched into space this year, Ran said.


Two satellites will be launched together on a single rocket in August, and another will be launched in October, Ran said.


China has launched three Beidou satellites this year, with two launched on a single rocket on April 30.


"China will formally announce plans to provide free positioning, navigation and time services for customers in the whole Asia-Pacific region by the end of the year," Ran said.


China will continue to improve the performance of Beidou, and by 2014, it will expand its service area, aiming for global coverage, Ran said.


"Some countries, including Indonesia and Australia, have cooperated with China for the research and application of the system," said Liu Jingnan, a member of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, who specializes in satellite surveying and mapping.


For example, some countries, such as Australia, New Zealand, Singapore and some European countries, have cooperated with Chinese research institutes, including Wuhan University, to set up stations in these countries to trace Beidou satellite signals for future application of the system, such as in fisheries and agriculture, said Liu.


"Such stations can greatly enhance the preciseness of satellite positioning to as high as just a few centimeters, which is important for the application of this system in industrial use," Liu said.


Currently, products based on the Beidou system, such as car and ship navigators, have been used in China, but the number is still very small compared to GPS users, said Cao Chong, director of the Advisory Center of the China Association for Global Navigation Satellite Systems.


"Beidou was put into service just a few years ago, so it is hard for it to compete with GPS," Cao said. "I think products that are compatible with both Beidou and other global positioning system technologies, such as that of GPS, will flourish in the next few years in China, and hold a majority share of the market."


David Turner, deputy director of the Office of Space and Advanced Technology within the US State Department, echoed Cao's opinion.
"It is better to encourage cooperation for compatibility," he said. "For example, if a navigator is compatible with Beidou and GPS and Russia's GLONASS, it will be much more precise."

Xin Dingding in Beijing contributed to this story.

wangxiaodong@chinadaily.com.cn

[everywhere]

Sri Lanka plans to launch its first satellite in 2015
(Shanghai Daily/Xinhua, May 24)

COLOMBO, May 24 (Xinhua) -- Sri Lanka is set to launch its first satellite by 2015 following an agreement with a Chinese company, officials said on Thursday.

SupremeSAT, a local company said it has reached an agreement with the Sri Lankan board of investment to the tune of 20 million U.S. dollars for the project.

By 2015 the company hopes to utilize the orbital slot of Sri Lanka which is located at 50 degrees East and launch the island's first ever telecommunications satellite.

"We already have two co-branded satellites with the Chinese company in orbit and by 2015 we hope to launch our own satellite which will be Sri Lanka's first," an official at SupremeSAT told Xinhua.

The company said it has entered into an exclusive partnership agreement with China's state-owned China Great Wall Industry Corporation (CGWIC) for the design, manufacturing and launching of the satellite.

CGWIC is the sole commercial organization authorized by the Chinese government to provide satellites, commercial launch services and to carry out international space cooperation.

SupremeSAT will offer all types of telecommunication services including broadband and networking services, various broadcast solutions, back-haul or range extension facilities for telecom operators and other services such as E-government and E-learning.

"We are now closely coordinating with the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission on the necessary approvals for the launch," R. M. Manivannan, Chairman of SupremeSAT said in a statement.

CGWIC meanwhile said it was confident that the partnership will make Sri Lanka's space ambitions a reality.

http://www.shanghaidaily.com/article...a.asp?id=72811

[everywhere]

China launches telecom satellite
(China Daily Europe, May 28)

XICHANG - China successfully sent a telecommunication satellite, "ChinaSat 2A," into orbit on Saturday evening, using a Long March-3B carrier rocket launched from the southwestern Xichang Satellite Launch Center.
The rocket blasted off at 11:56 pm Beijing time.


The satellite, developed by China Academy of Space Technology, will be used to meet the demands for China's radio and TV broadcasting and broadband multimedia transmissions, according to China Satellite Communications Co Ltd.


Saturday's launch marked the 163th mission of the Long March carrier rocket series developed by China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology under China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation.

http://europe.chinadaily.com.cn/busi...t_15401360.htm

[everywhere]

TAIYUAN, May 29 (Xinhua) -- The Yaogan XV remote-sensing satellite was successfully launched on Tuesday from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center in north China's Shanxi province, according to a press release from the center.

The satellite was launched at 3:31 p.m. on the back of a Long March 4B carrier rocket, according to the center.

The satellite will be used to conduct scientific experiments, carry out land surveys, monitor crop yields and aid in reducing and preventing natural disasters.

The Long March 4B carrier rocket was produced by the Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology under the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation. Tuesday's launch marked the 164th mission for the Long March rocket family.

http://www.shanghaidaily.com/article...a.asp?id=73731

[everywhere]

BEIJING, June 4 (Xinhuanet) -- On June 1, CMACast, the satellite broadcasting system of China Meteorological Administration (CMA), had been put into operation formally, marking China's meteorological data satellite broadcasting operation entered a new stage.

As one of the important part of the CMA's domestic and international communication system, CMACast integrates the former satellite broadcast systems of PCVSAT, DVB-S, and FENGYUNCast.

With a bandwidth up to 36 MHz, the broadcast capability of the CMACast is 6 times as the total sum of the PCVSAT, DVB-S, and FENGYUNCast.

Beside the regular meteorological data, the CMACast disseminates China's weather radar data, satellite image products, international exchanging meteorological data, as well as the videos such as China Weather TV, and weather consultations of CMA. The timeliness has been also greatly enhanced.

Providing the meteorological data dissemination service for users in Asia and Pacific region, the CMACast makes a global earth observation date broadcasting system together with America's GEONETCast, and Europe's EUMETCast.

http://www.shanghaidaily.com/article...a.asp?id=74858

[big-dog]

First female taikonaut, Liu Yang, will ride Shenzhou-9 on June 16th

China to launch Shenzhou-IX spacecraft in mid June

Updated: 2012-06-09

(Xinhua)



JIUQUAN - China will launch its Shenzhou-9 manned spacecraft sometime in mid-June to perform the country's first manned space docking mission with the orbiting Tiangong-1 space lab module, a spokesperson said here Saturday.

By 10:30 a.m. Saturday, the spacecraft and its carrier rocket, the Long March-2F, had been moved to the launch platform at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China, a spokesperson with the country's manned space program said.

In the next few days, scientists will conduct functional tests on the spacecraft and the rocket, as well as joint tests on selected astronauts, spacecraft, rocket and ground systems, according to the spokesperson.

The Shenzhou-9 will be launched into space to perform China's first manned space docking mission with the orbiting Tiangong-1 space lab module.

The manned spacecraft Shenzhou-9 and its carrier rocket were delivered to the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in early April this year.

The Tiangong-1, or Heavenly Palace-1, was lowered to docking orbit in early June and is orbiting normally, the spokesperson said.

The final preparations are running smoothly, and the selected astronauts have completed their training and are in sound physical and mental conditions, according to the spokesperson.

Niu Hongguang, deputy commander-in-chief of the country's manned space program, said earlier that the three-person crew on Shenzhou-9 might include female astronauts, but the final selection would be decided "on the very last condition."

The space docking mission will be manually conducted by astronauts, giving China another chance to test its docking technology, the program's spokesperson said previously.

One of the three Shenzhou-9 crew members will not board the Tiangong-1 space module lab, but will remain inside the spacecraft as a precautionary measure in case of emergency, the spokesperson said.

The target module Tiangong-1, which blasted off on September 29, 2011, went into long-term operation in space awaiting docking attempts of Shenzhou-9 and Shenzhou-10 after completing China's first space docking mission with the unmanned Shenzhou-8 spacecraft in early November.

[everywhere]

Will she be the first Chinese woman in space?

[everywhere]

JIUQUAN, Gansu, June 12 (Xinhua) -- The Shenzhou-9 manned spacecraft mission successfully completed its first full-system drill on Tuesday afternoon, and everything went well, an unidentified official with the mission said.

The drill began at 10:07 a.m. Beijing Time, when the mission entered 4:30 countdown. All systems relevant to the mission, including astronauts, spacecraft, rocket, launch center and the surveillance, control and communication systems, were well-organized and coordinated with each other in good order, according to Xinhua's eyewitness at the Command Hall of the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center.

"The four-and-a-half-hour drill fully tested the conditions of all systems," said the official. "Organization and command are unhindered, technology conditions and equipment are working normally and all the conditions can meet the requirements for the real launch."

As the closest event to the real mission, the drill was the first comprehensive maneuver ahead of the launch, with most systems taking part in it.

The spacecraft will be launched sometime in mid-June to perform the first manned space docking mission with the orbiting Tiangong-1 space lab module.

The official said all systems relevant to the space docking mission have arrived at the launch center, where experts have finished various activities to check the conditions of equipment and maintain the physical conditions of astronauts.

http://www.shanghaidaily.com/article...a.asp?id=76549

[everywhere]

JIUQUAN - The Shenzhou-9 manned spacecraft will face tests of thunder, high temperatures and other adverse weather conditions this summer ahead its launch, experts said Monday.


The spacecraft will be launched sometime in mid-June to perform the first manned space docking mission with the orbiting Tiangong-1 space lab module.


Li Dongxing, head of the meteorology office at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, said thunder will be the greatest hazard for the craft, as well as heavy winds, precipitation and electric fields.


Meteorological statistics from the last 30 years show that thunder occurs near the center at an average frequency of 2.6 times per month during the summer, with almost no thunder in autumn and winter.


"Although extreme weather does not happen frequently, it can lead to disastrous results if it does happen," Li said.


With the help of advanced surveillance and data analysis technology, nearly 30 weather forecasters are doing their best to make precise forecasts for the craft's launch window, Li said.


High temperatures will also pose a danger to the craft, as the ship's propellant can vaporize in excessively high temperatures, as well as solidify if the temperature is too cool.


However, experts working on the ship's propulsion system said the propellant will be stored in cool rooms before the ship is fueled, adding that the propellant's temperature is not likely to fluctuate after it is pumped into the rocket.


Various methods have been employed to cool rockets or keep them warm in the past. Before the launch of the Fengyun-2 satellite in June 1997, experts applied cold compresses to the satellite's Long March-3 carrier rocket to cool it down after it experienced a surge in temperature at southwest China's Xichang Satellite Launch Center.


Before the launch of the Shenzhou-4 spacecraft on December 30, 2002, cotton quilts were used to keep the rocket warm, as temperatures fell to negative 29 degrees Celsius that evening.

http://europe.chinadaily.com.cn/chin...t_15494111.htm

[everywhere]

China's astronauts are often affectionately called "superhuman beings", because they have to meet standards that seem, to lesser mortals, out of this world.


Because of the cramped living conditions in space, they cannot have body odor or bad breath. Those who suffer from chronic sore throats or runny noses will remain Earthbound. Neither can astronauts have ringworm, cavities or scars.


The first two female reserve astronauts, one of whom is likely to go into space on board Shenzhou IX and become China's first female astronaut, have to meet the same criteria as the men, said a senior medical expert from the astronaut selection panel.


But female astronauts have to meet extra conditions that are not applicable in other countries — they must be married and preferably mothers. This is because there are concerns that spaceflight, and the potential exposure to radiation, could harm their fertility.


"We have to act cautiously to protect astronauts, although there is no evidence of harm," Xu Xianrong, director of the People's Liberation Army's Clinical Aerospace Medicine Center in Beijing and a member of the selection panel, said.


Both female reserves were selected according to standards set for astronauts actually piloting a spacecraft.


These standards are stricter than those for a mission specialist, a job that demands less strength and is often allocated to women, Xu said.


Their physical condition must exceed even those set for fighter pilots. For instance, Xu said, astronauts cannot have arrhythmia, an irregular heartbeat, which can easily be triggered in space. Fighter pilots can fly with arrhythmia.


Too much calcium can also be a problem as the zero gravity in space means that astronauts could lose excessive amounts and suffer clogging in their blood vessels.


The thick spacesuits will aggravate any skin diseases. On top of this, their families must have a clean bill of health regarding contagious diseases, such as hepatitis.


Health records in various parts of the country will also be taken into account, he said.


For example, people in South China's Guangdong province and the Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region are more likely to develop nasopharyngeal cancer, while people in a county in Central China's Henan province have a high rate of esophageal cancer.


But Xu, who has participated in the selection process since the 1990s, believes that the "superhuman beings" were really only true for the first batch of 14 male reserve astronauts, selected between 1995 and 1997.



This was a period when the selection panel had little experience and few useful references and had to screen for all potential problems.


But now that China has sent six astronauts into space, the criteria for selecting the second batch of two female and five male reserve astronauts in 2010, has been relaxed, he said.


The second batch of reserve astronauts do not have to meet requirements on their G endurance, as fighter pilots do. This measures the ability of the body to withstand extreme gravitational forces.


The criteria for combating hypoxia, lack of oxygen, is not as strict as it is for fighter pilots.


"I prefer not to use 'superhuman being' to describe our astronauts, because that could scare away potential candidates," he said.


As China has planned to build a space station by 2020, it will need more astronauts.


A new selection criteria is being drafted, Xu said.


The US has shown that it is possible for people in their 60s to go into space, and some astronauts have even undergone serious surgery, he said.


With the easing of standards, the manned space program will be a realistic goal that motivates a new generation, he said.

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2...t_15496802.htm

[everywhere]

New Chinese engine to power space program
(Shanghai Daily/Xinhua, June 15)

CHINA has developed a non-toxic and pollution-free engine for its new generation of carrier rockets, making it the second country in the world to harness such technologies.

The 120-ton liquid oxygen/kerosene high-pressure staged combustion cycle engine will provide an effective guarantee for the country's manned space and lunar probe missions, the State Administration of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defense said.

It is the first kind of high-pressure staged combustion cycle engine for which China has proprietary intellectual property rights, the administration said.

It also makes China the second country in the world, after Russia, to grasp the core technologies for such an engine.

Researchers made more than 70 technical breakthroughs in design, manufacture and testing, and obtained nearly 20 national defense scientific and technical achievements along with patent licenses, officials said. They also worked on nearly 50 kinds of new materials.


Pollution-free

According to a government white paper issued at the end of last year, China will develop next-generation launch vehicles, including the Long March-5, Long March-6 and Long March-7, in the 2011-2015 period.

The Long March-5 will use a non-toxic and pollution-free propellant, and will be capable of placing a 25-ton payload into near-Earth orbit, or placing a 14-ton payload into geostationary orbit.

Meanwhile, the Shenzhou-9 manned spacecraft successfully completed its final full-system drill before its planned launch later this month, Niu Hongguang, deputy commander-in-chief of China's manned space program, said yesterday.

At the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China, all systems relevant to the mission were tested to ensure coordinated operation, the accuracy of the spacecraft's software and hardware and consistency in transmitting information, Niu said.

"The drill's results met our expectations," Niu added.

All of the ship's systems will be prepared and placed in a "freeze" state until the real launch takes place, Niu said.

The astronauts have conducted multiple drills themselves since arriving at the launch center on June 9, Niu said.

The Shenzhou-9 spacecraft is to carry out the country's first manned space docking mission with the orbiting Tiangong-1 space lab module.

http://www.shanghaidaily.com/nsp/Nat...ace%2Bprogram/

[big-dog]

Originally Posted by everywhere

Will she be the first Chinese woman in space?

yes she is

[big-dog]

Shenzhou-9 to launch tomorrow





(sina.com)

[everywhere]

CHINA'S Tiangong-1 space module has been specially designed for females, as the country's first woman astronaut will join Shenzhou-9 manned spacecraft docking mission this week and live in the Tiangong for 13 days.

Despite the module being only 15 cubic meters inside, the female astronaut will have a separate toilet and bedroom that is soundproof to protect her privacy, Pang Zhihao, a researcher with the China Academy of Space Technology, said yesterday.

"She will also be able to take a sponge bath with more water supply than that of her male counterparts, according to international conventions, and even bring some specially made cosmetics into space," said Pang.

Three astronauts, including a woman, have arrived at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwestern Gansu Province and are undergoing final tests.

The spacecraft will perform China's first manned space docking mission with the orbiting Tiangong-1 space lab module to let the astronauts enter. Live butterflies also will be taken into the space for scientific experiments.

A wide range of food has been prepared for the astronauts. More than 80 categories of food and condiments, including vinegar and pepper, are stored in the Shenzhou-9 spacecraft, far more than on any of the country's previous missions, Pang said.

The astronauts also will bring a food heater for the first time to ensure hot meals every day.

Their daily life also will be colorful. Apart from scientific experiments, they can watch movies on a laptop computer and send emails with attachments up to 8 megabytes via satellite.

"They can also have video conversations in the cabin with their families," Pang said.

Two women pilots from the Wuhan Flight Unit, including a backup, were picked for the mission. Either Liu Yang or Wang Yaping will become the nation's first woman in space, said Qi Faren, former chief designer of the Shenzhou spaceship series.

They are selected from 15 women who must be married and have given birth naturally, according to Space International magazine of the China Academy of Space Technology. They also must have no scars or body odor.

Pang said a scar might open and start bleeding in space and the cramped conditions would intensify body odor.

Xu Xianrong, a professor with the General Hospital of the PLA Air Force, said the female astronauts must be married and have given birth naturally because that ensures their body and mental condition are mature enough.

Meanwhile, Pang said female astronauts tend to be more "keen and sensitive with better communication skills than their male counterparts." He added women were also good at dealing with relationships with their space partners, which would be an important issue on a long mission such as a trip to Mars.

The former Soviet Union sent the world's first female astronaut, Valentina Vladimirovna Tereshkova, into space in 1963.

The Shenzhou-9 spacecraft was being tested for lightning, high temperatures and other adverse weather conditions ahead of its launch, Li Dongxing, head of the meteorology office at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, said yesterday.

Li said lightning will be the greatest hazard for the craft, but so will heavy winds, precipitation and electric fields.

Nearly 30 weather forecasters are doing their best to make precise forecasts for the craft's launch window, he added.

http://www.shanghaidaily.com/nsp/Nat...%2Bastronauts/

[everywhere]

JIUQUAN, Gansu - The Shenzhou IX manned spacecraft will be launched at 6:37 pm Saturday, according to a decision made by China's manned space docking program headquarters.

Three astronauts, two male and one female, will board China's fourth manned spacecraft to fulfill the country's first manned space docking mission.

They are Jing Haipeng, Liu Wang and Liu Yang who is female, according to the headquarters.

The upgraded Long March-2F carrier rocket will start to be fueled on Friday afternoon.

The launch ground and all control systems are ready. Astronauts are in good and stable condition and preparing for their space journey, the headquarters said.

A press conference will be held Friday afternoon and the spacecraft crew will meet the press.

http://usa.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2...t_15505830.htm

[everywhere]

HOUSTON, June 15 (Xinhua) -- The United States welcomes other nations that wish to join the endeavor of the peaceful exploration of space, a NASA spokesperson said Friday while commenting on China's imminent launch of its Shenzhou-9 manned spacecraft.

"The United States has been engaged in the peaceful exploration of space for more than 50 years, and we welcome those other nations that wish to join this endeavor," NASA spokesperson Allard Beutel told Xinhua in an email interview.

Beutel's remarks came on the eve of China's planned launch of its Shenzhou-9 manned spacecraft on Saturday to perform the country's first manned space docking mission and send its first female astronaut Liu Yang into space.

Beutel said female astronauts can play an equally important role in space as their male counterparts.

"NASA astronaut corps includes both female and male astronauts who train side-by-side and have identical opportunities to fly and work in space," Beutel said. "In fact, the current head of our astronaut corps is a woman, Dr. Peggy Whitson."

Whitson, Beutel said, is a veteran astronaut who holds the American record for the longest duration in space.

"For more than two decades, female astronauts have been an integral part of the NASA human space flight program," Beutel said.

http://www.shanghaidaily.com/article...a.asp?id=77415

[everywhere]

AN eloquent speaker who loves to cook, Liu Yang is well-poised to be the first Chinese woman in space.

"I am grateful to the motherland and the people. I feel honored to fly into space on behalf of hundreds of millions of female Chinese citizens," Liu, 34, said at a press conference yesterday.

"I have full confidence," Liu said. "There are many foreign female astronauts who have been into space. Men and women have their own advantages and capabilities in carrying out space missions. They can complement each other and better complete their mission."

Liu said she "yearns to experience the wondrous, weightless environment of space, see the Earth and gaze upon the motherland."

"I don't think the gender will be a problem in the space, because the first lesson I learned from my training was I am no different from my male colleagues and I don't need extra attention," she added.

Joining the People's Liberation Army Air Force in 1997, Liu became a veteran pilot after flying safely for 1,680 hours. She was promoted to deputy head of a PLA flight unit before being recruited as a prospective astronauts in May 2010. She is now an Air Force major.

After two years of training, which shored up her skills and readiness for space, Liu excelled in testing and was selected in March this year for the crew of Shenzhou-9.

"When I was a pilot, I flew in the sky. Now that I am an astronaut, I will fly in space. This will be a much higher and farther flight," Liu said.

Liu has been described by her colleagues as being outgoing, eloquent and well-versed.

Liu loves reading, particularly novels, essays and history books. She is also a proficient cook.

"I love children and I love life," said Liu, who lives in Beijing with her husband, who is also in the military. "To be with my family is one kind of happiness, but to fly is another kind that people cannot typically experience."

Liu and her husband have yet to start a family. "I will discuss with my husband when to have a child after I finish the mission, but the missions for me will always be the top priority," Liu said.

http://www.shanghaidaily.com/nsp/Nat...%2Bconfidence/