The three final candidates vying to be China's first astronaut
in space have arrived at the spacecraft's desert launch pad, the
government said yesterday, and it gave strong indications that only
one will make the trip.
Xinhuanet, the Website of China's Xinhua news agency, said in a
brief dispatch that the trio of finalists had arrived at
northwestern China's Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, where
security is tight, Xinhua cited "informed sources."
It said the "No 1 astronaut" among them would make the flight --
the firmest indication yet that the Shenzhou V capsule will carry
only one passenger.
China has scheduled its landmark first manned spaceflight for
sometime between tomorrow and Friday. The craft is expected to
orbit the Earth 14 times before returning.
The Xinhua report said the three finalists arrived at Jiuquan on
Sunday, adding that they were to undergo final testing today.
The Shenzhou V is based on the three-seat Russian Soyuz capsule,
which prompted suggestions that China might send up as many as
three astronauts, or "taikonauts" as they are known in Chinese.
Outside experts and Chinese news reports say the first flight is
likely to carry only one.
According to media reports yesterday, the rocket is waiting on
its launch pad.
The timing of China's first manned spaceship flight is set in
line with orbit conditions, the craft's need for orbital movements
and working conditions, and the requirements for ground monitoring
and controlling, according to a Chinese expert.
Firstly, the spacecraft should be positioned in the orbit with
its solar panels facing the Sun to ensure adequate energy supply
during free flight.
Secondly, an optimum angle has been selected to prevent direct
irradiation of the Sun from the three infrared sensors that are
used to measure the Earth while maintaining a certain temperature
in the capsule.
"It is very complicated to satisfy all these requirements
simultaneously when it flies in the orbit," said Zhou Jianping,
chief designer of China's spaceship launch center system.
"The room is very small for locating the proper timing as
climatic conditions vary in different seasons," he noted.
(eastday.com October 14, 2003)
