The report, published on Friday, emphasizes that Beijing will be able to place a Chinese astronaut in space, who will be launched with the help of a Chinese-made shuttle, in 2003 or 2004. The author of the report also notes that China plans to build its own space station
space shuttle. Soon also in China.
China could launch its first manned spaceship in about 18 months, and plans to create a space vehicle similar to the American shuttles. This was written in a report on behalf of the Department of Defense in Washington.
The report, published on Friday, emphasizes that Beijing will be able to place a Chinese astronaut in space, who will be launched with the help of a Chinese-made shuttle, in 2003 or 2004. The author of the report also notes that China is planning to build its own space station.
According to senior Defense Department officials, China conducted launch tests of spaceships in November 1999 and January 2001.
As part of its preparation for the era of conquering space, China received the most significant assistance from Russia, with whom it signed a cooperation agreement on the subject (space), for a period of five years, last year.
China has selected 14 astronauts for flights to space and the moon
The Chinese Space Agency announced that 14 fighter pilots were selected to be the crew of the first astronauts to be launched on the Chinese space shuttle in 2005. The candidates are fighter pilots, with an average height of 1.7 meters and a weight of 50 kg, dimensions suitable for the limited size of the Chinese spacecraft. The Chinese space agency mainly relies on Chinese technology, including the launcher, the spacecraft, the ground stations as well as the space suits and food that the astronauts will use. According to the publications, the Chinese intend to launch a manned spacecraft to the moon in 2010.
