China Space Mission Said Planned for October

Posted on: Sep. 26th, 2005 || Source: rednova.com | E-mail Article | Print Article

SHANGHAI, China -- China's second manned space mission - and its first to carry two astronauts - is due to launch on Oct. 13, weather permitting, and return five days later, a state media report said.

The launch of Shenzhou VI is scheduled for 11 a.m. at Jiuquan Satellite Launch Base, in the Gobi desert in northern China, with the mission lasting 119 hours if all goes according to plan, the state-run China News Service reported on Sunday.

It said midday was chosen as the launch time to improve safety and allow launch personnel enough time for final preparations, unlike some past unmanned missions that pushed off in the night and pre-dawn hours.

"The main reason is to provide greater safety for the astronauts because these spaceships are manned spaceships," the report said.

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