BEIJING, Oct. 15 -- Shenzhou VI underwent orbit "micro-readjustment" early on Friday, the first time such maintenance has taken place since Wednesday's launch.

    The Beijing Aerospace Control Centre said that the maintenance was a normal technical operation, and controllers will perform similar tasks in the future in accordance with the spacecraft's orbiting situation.

Chinese taikonauts Fei Junlong and Nie Haisheng, having got accustomed to conditions in space, began to enjoy their life aboard the Shenzhou-6 spacecraft.

    At 5:56 am on Friday, when Shenzhou VI was circling the Earth for the 30th time, the control centre began the scheduled orbital maintenance.

    Centre experts explained that during Shenzhou VI's flight, atmosphere resistance would slightly slow down the spacecraft, prompting the craft to decline slowly towards the Earth. Therefore mission control decided to fine-tune its orbit to restore the vessel to its original trajectory, they said.

    At the time the orbit was being "micro-readjusted," astronauts Fei Junlong and Nie Haisheng, in blue suits, were seen closely watching the operation, according to pictures shown on the monitoring screens at the control centre.

    Reports from the astronauts and data from a monitoring vessel in the Atlantic Ocean indicated the operation was a success. All the instruments and equipment aboard the craft have worked normally since Shenzhou VI blasted off, the centre said, without specifying.

    The two astronauts piloting the capsule have conducted a raft of scientific experiments in the craft's return and orbital modules, and accumulated expertise in living and working in a weightless environment, the centre said. The astronauts reported normal body conditions.

    Scientists will choose the optimum timing for Shenzhou VI to return to the Earth. The weather at the landing site in North China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region is a key factor.

    Wu Guoting, a senior researcher with the Chinese Academy of Space Technology, told Xinhua News Agency that the return time will be chosen in accordance with meteorological and other conditions at the main landing area.

    Wu said the return was likely to occur around the fifth day of the mission.

    (Source: China Daily)