China to launch space mission in late September

[September 08, 2008]  BEIJING (AP) -- China will launch its third manned space mission in late September, featuring its first-ever space walk, a state news agency said.

The Shenzhou 7 launch is to take place between Sept. 25 and 30, the official Xinhua News Agency reported late Saturday.

The spacecraft will be launched from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwestern Gansu province, the agency said, citing a spokesman from the center.

It will carry three astronauts into space, one of whom will conduct a space walk, the report said, citing Zhao Changxi, a senior scientist with the project.

The space walk will be broadcast live using cameras mounted on the inside and outside of the spacecraft, Xinhua said.

In 2003, China became the third country in the world -- along with the United States and Russia -- to send a human into orbit. It followed with a two-man mission in 2005.

China launched a moon probe last year about one month after rival Japan blasted its own lunar orbiter into space.

[Associated Press]

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