China has deployed a far-flung space monitoring, controlling and communications network to provide the essential support to China's first manned space flight, said Yu Zhijian, chief designer of the monitoring system for China's manned space flight program.

The network is made up of thirteen monitoring and controlling stations and ships, deployed in different parts of the world. They include four "Yuanwang" vessels on the three big oceans, five stationary measuring stations in the territory of China, one mobile measuring station and three monitoring and controlling stations in other countries, including a new one in Malindi of Kenya. The additional Malindi station in the monitoring blind zone between Namibia and Karachi will help increase the monitoring time by about four minutes

The 13 monitoring and controlling stations and ships are put under the command of the control centers in Jiuquan, Beijing and Xi'an.

"This monitoring and controlling network is the largest, the most complicated, the most advanced technically and the most reliable in the history of China's space program," said Yu.

Yu is confident of the successful monitoring and communications support in the lifting, orbit shift and return brake, separation and key flying stages.

(Xinhua News Agency October 15, 2003)