China has begun the manufacturing of the Shenzhou VII rocket, which is set to launch this spacecraft into space in 2008, according to a senior project official.
Speaking on China Central Television, Jing Muchun, the chief designer of China’s manned space program, announced that the procurement of materials and the construction of the Shenzhou VII rocket have commenced.
He stated that many high-quality materials will be used in the rocket’s construction, and scientists are upgrading various components to enhance durability. Additionally, researchers are considering the installation of more cameras.
As part of the manned space program, Chinese astronauts will undertake multiple spacewalks and construct a space station during Phase II of the program using the Shenzhou VII spacecraft.
Following the United States and Russia, China is the third country in the world to successfully launch a crewed spacecraft into space, with its first manned mission in 2003 featuring astronaut Yang Liwei aboard Shenzhou V, and the second mission last October with astronauts Fei Junlong and Nie Haisheng aboard Shenzhou VI.
TUONG VY
