China's first manned spaceship, Shenzhou V, is the largest of
its kind in the world.
The spaceship, consisting of a propulsion module, a re-entry
module, an orbiter and an additional module, is large enough for
three astronauts, Yuan Jiajun, a leading senior engineer in charge
of the spaceship system under China's space program, told Xinhua
Thursday.
The re-entry module of the spacecraft measures 2.5 meters in
diameter, larger than the first spaceships launched by the former
Soviet Union and the United States, which were designed to
accommodate only one cosmonaut. Shenzhou V, weighing 7,790
kilograms, is also heavier.
Shenzhou V will not abandon its orbit module, Yuan said.
Instead, it will remain on the orbit for scientific experiments
over a period of several months after the re-entry module return to
earth.
"Multi-adaptability of the orbiter has made our future space
projects possible," said Yuan, adding that Chinese experts are
focusing on the docking technology for moving objects in space.
(Xinhua News Agency October 16, 2003)
