ĦĦĦĦJIUQUAN, Gansu, Dec. 30 (Xinhuanet) -- China launched its fourth unmanned
spacecraft "Shenzhou IV" early Monday morning with a "Long March II F" carrier
rocket, a move that could soon lead to its manned space voyage.
ĦĦĦĦLeading scientists in charge of China's manned space program said the
successful launch of the "Shenzhou (divine vessel) IV" laid a solid foundation
for the country's future task of sending Chinese astronauts to outer space.
ĦĦĦĦThe "Long March II F" rocket blasted off at 00:40 a.m. (BeijingTime) from
the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China's Gansu Province.
ĦĦĦĦIt was the 27th consecutive successful launch of China-made rockets after
October 1996.
ĦĦĦĦLiu Zhusheng, leading designer of the carrier rocket system, said that the
"Long March II F" rocket is on a par with the best of its kind in the world in
terms of reliability and safety.
ĦĦĦĦSpace scientists at the Beijing Aerospace Command and Control Center said
that the "Shenzhou IV" had entered a preset orbit.
ĦĦĦĦSu Shuangning, commander and leading designer of the astronaut system for
China's manned space program, said Chinese astronauts had entered the spacecraft
to receive training for the first time.
ĦĦĦĦThe astronauts were all selected from fighter pilots in the airforce, Su
said.
ĦĦĦĦ"With tough training in basic theories, professional skills andflight
procedures and tasks, the astronauts are absolutely capableof making their
maiden voyage to outer space," said the commander. 
ĦĦĦĦQi Faren, leading designer of the spacecraft system, said all the
functions, indices and data relevant to manned flights had stood up to the test
of three previous successful launches and return landings of the "Shenzhou"
spaceships.
ĦĦĦĦ"Shenzhou IV" had been modified to make it a more comfortable
place for astronauts to live in and work, said Qi.
ĦĦĦĦAll parts of the application system for manned flight are installed aboard
the "Shenzhou IV" craft in the ongoing test flights.
ĦĦĦĦGu Yidong, commander and chief designer of the space application system,
said a number of scientific experiments would be conducted while the spacecraft
remained in space, including some involving the astronaut flight system, control
of the spacecraft environment and life support sub-system.
ĦĦĦĦZhou Jianping, chief designer of the launch system, told Xinhuathe Jiuquan
Satellite Launch Center had put in place sound facilities for survey, control,
telecommunications, and command systems with necessary facilities catering for
astronauts.
ĦĦĦĦSun Baosheng, deputy chief designer of the monitoring and
telecommunications system, said monitoring stations under the Xi'an Satellite
Monitoring Center and four "Yuanwang" aerospace survey ships at anchor in the
Pacific, Indian and Atlantic oceans,were tracking and controlling the
spacecraft.
ĦĦĦĦZhao Jun, commander and chief designer of the landing system, said a number
of land and marine emergency rescue zones had been set up, and rescue workers
had conducted some trial rescue operations in line with requirements set for
manned flights.
ĦĦĦĦAccording to China's manned flight program which began in 1992,a number of
unmanned test flights will be launched before Chinese astronauts are sent into
space.
ĦĦĦĦExperts regard Monday's successful launch as one of the important test
missions of the whole program.
ĦĦĦĦThe orbiting spacecraft is expected to return to Earth after completing its
preset experiments in space during an unspecified period.
ĦĦĦĦChina launched the "Shenzhou I", "Shenzhou II" and "Shenzhou III"
spacecraft in November 1999, January 2001 and March 2002 respectively. Enditem
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