China to launch second manned space mission

China’s second manned space mission will be launched tomorrow morning, carrying two astronauts into orbit on a flight lasting several days, the government announced today.

A rocket carrying the Shenzhou VI space capsule will blast off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre in the Gobi Desert of China’s north-west, the official Xinhua News Agency said.

An earlier Xinhua report said a crew had been picked from a field of six finalists, but didn’t give their names.

A Chinese newspaper identified the pilot of Shenzhou VI as Fei Junlong and said he would be accompanied by Nie Haisheng. The report by the Chongqing Morning Post didn’t cite a source.

Nie was among three finalists for China’s first manned space flight in 2003. He lost out to Colonel Yang Liwei, who spent more than 21 hours in orbit before his capsule landed by parachute in China’s northern grasslands.