Up to fourteen astronauts, including China's first three astronauts, are reported to be competing for places on the nation's third manned space mission currently slated for October 2008. Yang Liwei, China's first astronaut, and Fei Junlong and Nie Haisheng, who flew China's second mission as a dual mission, are said to be be in training along with eleven other potential astronauts Xinhua News reported.
The Shenzhou 7 astronauts will walk in space for the first time, the report said. Each move will be broadcast live, Pang Zhihao, a researcher with the China Academy of Space Technology. The astronauts will perform work outside the capsule such as installing equipment and "tightening screws,".
China launched its first unmanned experimental spacecraft in November 1999 and the Shenzhou V spacecraft, with Yang aboard, was launched on October 15, 2003, when China became the third country after the United States and Russia to send a man into space.
The Shenzhou VI spacecraft completed a five-day flight with two astronauts on board from October 12, 2005.
Source: Xinhua News Agency
