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Astronauts enter spacecraft, ready for launch
www.chinanews.cn 2005-10-12 08:49:28
(Source: Xinhuanet)
Fei Junlong (left), Nie Haisheng have been selected to pilot the Shenzhou
VI spacecraft. China plans to launch its 2nd manned space mission this
morning. [Xinhua]
JIUQUAN, Oct. 12 - Chinese astronauts Fei Julong and Nie Haisheng entered
the capsule of spacecraft Shenzhou-6 at dawn Wednesday, preparing for the
country's second manned space mission.
Heavy snow swept this launch site in northwest China's Gansu Province in
the small hours of the day, and it stopped at about the same time the
astronauts boarded the space vessel at 6:15.
Earlier, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao offered his best wishes to the
astronauts who are both selected air force pilots, like Shenzhou-5 pilot
Yang Liwei, the first Chinese put into space two years ago.
Fei, 40, from Kunshan, east China's Jiangsu Province, was selected as one
of the five astronaut candidates in intensified training for China's
first manned space flight -- Shenzhou-5, which blast into space in
October 2003.
Nie, 41, from Zaoyang, central China's Hubei Province, was selected as
one of the three finalists for Shenzhou-5. The other two were Yang Liwei
and Zhai Zhigang.
"I'm here to see you off with enormous warmth, on behalf of theParty
Central Committee, the State Council and the Central Military Commission
as well as General Secretary Hu Jintao," Wen told the astronauts in space
suits.
The premier said he believes "the astronauts will accomplish the glorious
and sacred mission."
Two years ago, the Shenzhou-5 spacecraft, independently developed by
China, carried Chinese hero astronaut Yang Liwei intothe Earth's orbit,
marking the realization of the Chinese dream ofentering space since
ancient times, Wen said.
"Piloting the Shenzhou-6 spaceship, you will once again show tothe world
that the Chinese people have the will, confidence and capability to mount
new scientific peaks ceaselessly," he said.
The premier said he hopes the astronauts will recreate a miracle for
China's space program "with resolute confidence, sobermind, fortitude and
courage," and all the people of China "expect their victorious return
from the mission."
In the next few days of space flight, the two astronauts will, for the
first time, move from the return module into the orbital module. Some
laboratory tests will be made during the voyage.
Both Fei and Nie said they have confidence to fulfill the mission.
Compared with Shenzhou-5, more than 110 technical modificationshave been
made for the 9.2-meter-long Shenzhou-6.
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