Chinese people could have a second reason to cheer in October -- the first is the National Day holiday and the second, the likely launch of the nation's second manned space mission.

While the dates for the public holiday are set, the timing of the launch of the Shenzhou VI spacecraft is not so clear; media reports yesterday had it that it would be a five-day space trip around mid-October with two astronauts on board.

The China News Service reported the Shenzhou VI -- which looks similar to the Shenzhou V launched in 2003 -- had been transferred to the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in Gansu Province, northwest China, indicating that the blast-off is approaching.

The China Manned Space Program Office in Beijing, however, declined to confirm the reports while at the same time suggesting a launch was imminent.

"We will release pertinent information after the National Day holiday -- days before the launch (of Shenzhou VI)," an official, who did not want to be identified and refused to reveal more, told China Daily.

China's first astronaut Yang Liwei said about two weeks ago in Nanjing that the Shenzhou VI was to be launched in mid-October. He reportedly said that he would not be part of the second mission.

The launch date has not been announced partly because its "launch window" is determined by a host of factors, including weather conditions, according to some insiders.

An official who is close to the manned space program earlier said the launch would be in daytime to enhance safety and ease preparations.

The Shenzhou VI will probably again land on the grasslands in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, he added.

The Shenzhou V, which orbited the Earth 14 times in a 21-and-half-hour flight in October two years ago, also descended on the northern Chinese region.

During the second manned flight, astronauts will be able to move from the spaceship's re-entry module to the orbital module to conduct scientific tests, Sun Laiyan, head of the China National Space Administration, told China Daily earlier.

After the re-entry module returns to the Earth, the orbital module will continue working in space as an independent satellite carrying out a series of scientific experiments, scientists said.

Yesterday's media reports again highlighted the fault-detection and escape system on the Shenzhou VI to improve the safety of the astronauts.

The 8-meter-tall escape system, built atop the spacecraft, can detach the Shenzhou VI from its rocket in case of emergency 900 seconds before and 160 seconds after take-off, according to Hong Kong-based Wen Wei Po newspaper.

The duo to fly the Shenzhou VI will be chosen from the same pool of fighter-jet pilots who were part of the first selection process during which Yang was chosen.

Shenzhou VI: how it is different  

Shenzhou VI will carry two astronauts on the mission that will last five or more days; first mission carried one astronaut and lasted 21 1/2 hours.

Safety of crew and capsule improved in Shenzhou VI compared with first solo-flight -- for example, in life-support systems.

In Shenzhou VI, astronauts enter craft's orbital capsule to conduct scientific experiments, instead of being stuck in re-entry capsule like Yang Liwei.

Cosier trip in Shenzhou VI where heated food and essential sanitary equipment will be available. Astronauts take turns to sleep.

(China Daily September 27, 2005)