China to unveil first manned space capsule to public
( 2003-10-24 15:10) (Agencies)
China was preparing Friday to put its first manned space capsule on display
in Beijing. Technicians moved the Shenzhou 5 capsule into an exhibition hall on
the Chinese capital's west side.
Yang Liwei, China's
first space man, waves to the recovery teams after walking out of the
return capsule of the Shenzhou V spaceship Thursday morning, October 16.
Yang spent about 21 hours in the outer space before the capsule landed
safely in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. Premier Wen Jiabao said
China's first manned spaceflight was a "complete success".
[Xinhua] | The exhibit was set up inside the
Millennium Monument, where thousands of people gathered to celebrate following
Yang's landing Oct. 16 after 21 1/2 hours in orbit.
People looking in through the monument's glass doors could catch a glimpse of
the kettle-shaped Shenzhou 5 inside a giant glass display case. Shenzhou means
``Divine Vessel.''
The successful launch of Shenzhou V made China only the third member of the
club of spacefaring nations - joining the former Soviet Union and the United
States.
Yang was declared healthy after his capsule landed by parachute in China's
northern grasslands. State television showed him arriving by plane in Beijing a
few hours later and being greeted by the country's defense minister.
On Friday, a photo in the newspaper Beijing Times showed technicians with a
crane moving Yang's capsule into the Millennium Monument, next to China's main
military museum.
Earlier Shenzhou capsules also were displayed at the monument following
unmanned test flights.
Following Yang's flight, China said it would launch another Shenzhou flight
within two years and eventually plans to establish a permanently manned space
station.
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