China counts down to third manned space mission
25/9/2008 17:14
China counted down today to its third manned space mission Shenzhou-7
which will include the country's first ever space walk.
The Jiuquan Satellite
Launch Centre started an eight-hour countdown at 1:10 pm today (Beijing
Time).
The Shenzhou-7 spaceship, carrying three Chinese astronauts Zhai
Zhigang, Liu Boming and Jing Haipeng, is due to blast off between 9:07 p.m. and
10:27 p.m. on a Long March II-F rocket.
At 2:10 pm today, technicians have
switched on ground facilities for another round of self-check, a source with the
launch centre said.
The trio taikonauts are also making preparations to enter
the Shenzhou-7 spaceship.
Xinhua
|
