Airborne and ground rescue teams with four helicopters, a sky truck and seven special vehicles have got ready for Shenzhou VI's return at China's secondary ground landing site in Jiuquan, an officer said Sunday.

 

"Decision will be made six hours before the spacecraft's return whether the re-entry capsule will land at the primary landing site in Inner Mongolia or this northwestern standby site," said Zhu Yabin, chief of the land search and rescue team.

 

"Anyway, we have fully prepared to greet the taikonauts here at any time," he added.

 

The rescue and search team will operate in an area 15 km by 9 km, or an area 170 km by 30 km in case the spacecraft returns in an unexpected way.

 

Airborne soldiers will be used if the spacecraft lands in areas not suitable for helicopters, said the officer.

 

The designated landing spot will be some 30 km from a hospital with the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, where the craft was launched Wednesday morning, and about 60 km from the airport.

 

The taikonauts will be carried to Beijing by a special plane if they are diagnosed to be in normal health, or to hospital if they suffer physical damage, according to him.

 

Meanwhile, six helicopters, 14 special vehicles and more than 200 rescuers are at the primary landing site in Siziwang Banner (county), Inner Mongolia, to wait for the taikonauts to return, said Sui Qisheng, chief commander in charge of landing.

 

In an interview with Xinhua on Sunday, Sui said, "We have drawn out detailed plans to ensure that rescue workers and equipment will arrive at where the capsule lands."

 

Several drillings have been carried out for this purpose, he added.

 

(Xinhua News Agency October 16, 2005)