Chinese astronauts battle to get into space
The three final candidates vying to be China’s first astronaut in space have arrived at the spacecraft's desert launch pad, the Chinese government said today.
The government indicated that only one will make the trip.
The trio of finalists arrived at northwestern China’s Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre, where security is tight, Xinhua news agency said.
It said the “No. 1 astronaut” among them would make the flight – the firmest indication yet that the Shenzhou 5 capsule will carry only one passenger.
China has scheduled its first manned spaceflight for later this week, but have not been more specific. The craft is expected to orbit the Earth 14 times before returning.
A successful trip would make China the third spacefaring nation, after the former Soviet Union and the US.
The Shenzhou is based on the three-seat Russian Soyuz capsule, which had prompted suggestions that China might send up as many as three astronauts.
But outside experts and Chinese news reports say the first flight is likely to carry only one.
