The first Chinese manned spaceflight is due to be launched using a Long March 2F booster at 09:00 on 15 October from a launch site 300km (160nm) northeast of Jiuqaun, Inner Mongolia, according to industry sources. It is understood the ShenZhou 5 spacecraft will be manned by a single "taikonaut", who will fly for 21h, with the mission due to end at around 18:00 on 16 October after 14 orbits. The craft will be placed into a 200km by 350km initial orbit which will later be circularised at 350km. The craft, based on the design of the Russian Soyuz and which will carry a seed experiment container, can house three crewmen and includes an attached orbital module. The landing will be in the prime recovery zone in Siziwang Qi in Inner Mongolia. China will become the third nation after the former Soviet Union and the USA to launch a man into space but the second to launch a man into orbit on the first flight.
Source: Flight International
