¡¡¡¡JIUQUAN (Gansu Province), March 25 (Xinhuanet) -- Chinese President Jiang Zemin watched the launch of China's third unmanned spacecraft "Shenzhou III" Monday night at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest Gansu Province.

¡¡¡¡The spaceship, which can carry out the functions of a manned craft, was boosted by the "Long March II F" carrier rocket into a preset orbit. The successful launch symbolized another milestone for China's space science and technology.

¡¡¡¡At the launch site, Jiang extended his congratulations to scientists and technologists as well as servicemen of the People'sLiberation Army (PLA).

¡¡¡¡Space experts said that "Shenzhou III" was "technically suitable for astronauts". A set of metabolic simulation apparatus,human physical monitoring sensors and dummy astronauts have been installed aboard the spaceship.

¡¡¡¡During the test launch, space scientists for the first time tested the escape system, which could save the lives of astronauts.

¡¡¡¡After watching the lift-off, Jiang said that the successful launch organized by Chinese experts showed the Chinese people's spirit of constantly striving to become stronger.

¡¡¡¡The successful launch of "Shenzhou III" must further encourage the Chinese people's national dignity and cohesion, Jiang said.

¡¡¡¡Jiang said that the CPC Central Committee decided to carry out the manned space program ten years ago.

¡¡¡¡The Chinese-made "Long March" carrier rockets and "Shenzhou" spaceships represented the country's scientific and technological achievements, he said.

¡¡¡¡China has established a spaceship application system, a state-of-the-art space launch site, a spaceship monitoring and controlling network and a spaceship landing system, as well as a group of astronauts, Jiang said.

¡¡¡¡"The successful launches of three Shenzhou spaceships takes thecountry to new heights of space science and technology," Jiang said.

¡¡¡¡Achievements in space science and technology would greatly spureconomic development, scientific advancement and the modernizationof national defense, Jiang said.

¡¡¡¡Jiang encouraged the scientists and technologists to further upgrade the country's scientific and technological level and improve national might.

¡¡¡¡During the craft's outer-space travel, a series of scientific and technological experiments are planned in "Shenzhou III", whichconsists of an orbital module, re-entry module, propulsion sectionand access section.

¡¡¡¡Scientists with the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) have planned experiments on life sciences, space materials, space astronomy, space physics and microgravity research.

¡¡¡¡After separation from the re-entry module, the orbital module will continue circling around the earth for several months.

¡¡¡¡Officers in charge of the China Manned Space Program said that Shenzhou's flight was being tracked and controlled from the Beijing Aerospace Direction and Control Center, Xi'an Satellite Monitoring Center and a fleet of four monitoring vessels, which have been deployed at the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian oceans.

¡¡¡¡Among those who accompanied Jiang Zemin at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center included Wu Bangguo, member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and vice-premier, Zeng Qinghong, alternate member of the Political Bureau and memberof the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee, Yu Yongbo, memberof the Central Military Commission and director of the PLA GeneralPolitical Department, and Cao Gangchuan, member of the Central Military Commission and director of the PLA General Armament Department. Enditem