|
China's first man in space visits Russia
(AP)
Updated: 2005-08-23 09:18
China's first man in space met with Russian space officials on Friday,
discussed cooperation between the two countries and said he would enjoy flying
aboard a new spacecraft Russia is designing.
China's first man
in space, Col. Yang Liwei, during his meeting with Russian space officials
in Moscow. [AP] | In his first foreign visit since he orbited the Earth in China's first manned
space flight in October 2003, Col. Yang Liwei met with top space officials and
was presented with an award named after Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin, the first
man in space.
The Chinese manned space program's technology is based on Russia's Soyuz
space capsule, though with extensive modifications, and Russian space agency
chief Anatoly Perminov said the giant neighbors plan to step up space-related
cooperation.
"We are convinced that our joint, mutual cooperation with China in the sphere
of space will be constantly developing and increasing," Perminov said at the
meeting, which came as Russia and China boosted relations with their first-ever
joint military exercises.
During his weeklong visit, which was to end on Monday, Yang visited Russia's
Mission Control center, astronaut training facilities and Moscow's International
Air Show exhibit, said the space agency's spokesman Vyacheslav Davidenko.
At the show he was shown a mock-up of the Kliper, or Clipper, shuttle, a
reusable spacecraft that is being designed to replace the Soviet-designed
single-use Soyuz.
Asked by Perminov whether Yang would like to fly aboard Kliper, Yang said he
would enjoy the flight.
"As a professional astronaut I would like to have an opportunity to fly
aboard advanced spacecraft," Yang said through a translator.
A Chinese state newspaper reported last month that China hopes to launch its
second manned space mission in October, two years after the first
flight.
|
 | | | Chimpanzee suffers from smoking addiction | | |  | | | The tide is high but they're holding on | | |  | | | China, Russia military drills stage landing | | |
|
 |
|
|
|
|
Today's
Top News |
|
|
|
Top China
News |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
