China plans next space mission
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Yang has become a national hero in China after his successful space mission in 2003.
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BEIJING, China (Reuters) -- China, which last year became the third nation to blast a man into space, plans to send two astronauts up on a five-to-seven-day mission in 2005 and later build a space station, state television reported on Saturday.
Wang Yongqing, chief designer of the nation's secretive manned space programme, told CCTV preparations for the launch of the two-person Shenzhou VI craft were proceeding smoothly.
Last October, solo astronaut Yang Li circled Earth 14 times during a 21-hour trip aboard the Shenzhou V, a name meaning "Divine Ship."
A previous report by the semi-official China New Service had said China wanted to put three people into space aboard the next Shenzhou mission.
"We will continue by launching Shenzhou VII, Shenzhou VIII and so on, carry out spacewalks, make space dockings and set up a space laboratory," Wang told CCTV.
He said astronauts would stay aboard the orbiting lab for short periods, with spacecraft ferrying them back and forth. Eventually China would launch a larger space station with better experimental capabilities, he said.
Wang's remarks were broadcast just a day after he and another scientist received China's annual State Science and Technology award from President Hu Jintao, along with a cash prize of 5 million yuan ($605,000).
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