Special Report: Third Manned Space Mission

    WASHINGTON, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) -- "NASA wishes China success on the launch of Shenzhou-7 and the safe return of its crew," a spokesman for the U.S. space agency told Xinhua on the eve of the mission.

    China has announced that the Shenzhou-7 spacecraft will lift off on Thursday night. This will be the third Chinese manned space mission, but the first time Chinese astronauts perform a spacewalk.

The undated photo shows technicians help the Shenzhou-7 manned spaceship to dock with the Long-March II-F rocket at an assembly plant. The spaceship has been finished docking with the rocket recently. (Xinhua/Qin Xian'an) Photo Gallery>>>

    "Spacewalks are very important to space exploration," said Michael Braukus, the public affair officer at NASA headquarters in Washington, D.C. "Spacewalks will probably be necessary in the repair and assembly of future exploration spacecraft."

    He said NASA's Apollo missions demonstrated the scientific importance of leaving the spacecraft and venturing outside into the moon's hostile environment to collect samples and perform science experiments.

    When asked about the prospect of cooperation between U.S. and China in the field of space exploration, the spokesman told Xinhua that during the NASA Administrator -- Michael Griffin's visit to China in Sept. 2006, the China National Space Administration (CNSA) and NASA agreed to form working groups for discussion in Earth science and space science.

    "U.S. and China meet for initial discussions and exchange information on subjects of mutual scientific interest, centered on complementary measurements and data exchanges on missions that arealready being pursued," Braukus said. And the recent meetings took place on June 30 and July 1, 2008.

    NASA's space exploration missions include expansion of human knowledge of our planet and phenomena in space. "International dialogues can increase this knowledge," said Braukus. "China's space program offers potential opportunities for cooperation in Earth and space science."

Shenzhou-7 taikonauts in final training for liftoff 

    JIUQUAN, Gansu, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- Six taikonauts (astronauts) selected for China's Shenzhou-7 space mission are in final training for the launch sometime from Sept. 25 to 30, says a senior mission official.

    The candidates for the three-man mission rehearse basic procedures every day and study manuals to maintain their skills, Huang Weifen, deputy chief designer of the mission's flight system, said on Tuesday. Full story

China's latest space mission finishes rehearsal

    JIUQUAN, Gansu, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- China's third manned space mission Shenzhou-7 finished its last rehearsal before blast-off.

    Now the crew, who will conduct the first Chinese space walk, is waiting for a launch window at a remote rocket base.

    Monday's rehearsal involved scientists from all branches of the space project including the carrier rocket and landing venue. Full story 

Ships ready to track Shenzhou VII space mission

    BEIJING, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- All five satellite tracking ships are now in position to support China's first space walk mission.

    The final Yuanwang ship arrived at its destination on Monday, said Jian Shilong, director with the China Maritime Tracking and Control Department.

    The ships will remotely track and support the Shenzhou VII space shuttle which will blast off in late September.  Full story