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BEIJING, Oct. 13 (Xinhuanet) -- China is able to ensure a safe return of its
second manned spacecraft Shenzhou-6 as it has reached the world level in
recovery technologies, Hou Ying, chief designer of the manned spacecraft landing
system, said Thursday.
The landing system has been upgraded along with the developmentof the
manned spacecraft, Hou said in an exclusive interview with Xinhua.
When China launched Shenzhou-1, an unmanned spacecraft, in 1991,there was
only one landing field, and an emergency landing ground was added for Shenzhou-2
ten years later.
In March and December of 2002, when China launched Shenzhou-3 and
Shenzhou-4 space vehicles respectively, a standby landing field and offshore
landing sites for emergency landing.
When Shenzhou-5 was put in orbit two years ago, the landing system had been quite
perfect, Hou said. The rescue squad arrived at the landing field in less than
half minute after the spacecraft landed, he said.
Currently, the landing system is composed of the main landing field, the
standby landing field, and a number of other emergency landing sites, which are
equipped with advanced radio measuring systems to help monitor the movements of
the return capsule.
These sites have aerial rescue squads equipped with helicopters,land rescue
squads equipped with special vehicles, and medical squads consisted of medical
experts.
According to officials, the last drilling for the recovery of Shenzhou-6
re-entry capsule will be conducted in the main landing field in Siziwang Banner
(county) of Inner Mongolia, Thursday night. Enditem |