China begins its manned space program by launching 3 astronauts in June to dock with an orbiting experimental module, and the crew might include the first female astronauts.

Beijing / NationalTurk – The Shenzhou 9 spacecraft carrying a rocket has been moved to a launch pad in China’s desert northwest last weekend for the mid-June manned space flight, China’s first move into the space concluding the nation’s ambitous space program’s first step.

Chinese in space : First female astronaut

The three-member space crew will dock with and live in the Tiangong 1 orbital module launched in 2011, according to Chinese state-run news agency Xinhua. The Chinese government has not informed how long the first Chinese space mission will continue.

Xinhua reported Niu Hongguang, that deputy commander in chief of the Chinese manned space program mentioned the crew ‘ might include female astronauts.’

China in space : Chinese space program achieved a lot in last decade

China’s space program has made steady progress since a 2003 launch that made it only the third nation in the world after the US and Russia to send a man into space on its own. Two more manned space flight missions have followed the first one, one including a space walk in 2008.

The Shenzhou 9 spacecraft will be tested by Chinese scientists over the next few days. The Chinese spacecraft’s long March 2F rocket and ground systems will be rechecked before the launch. During the flight, one crew member will remain aboard the Shenzhou 9 as a precautionary measure in case of an emergency while the others enter Tiangong 1 taht currently orbits the Earth. Two Chinese astronauts will stay in Tiangong 1 for a short time to conduct a series of unspecified experiments.

China launches 3 astronauts into space, US wary of Chinese achievements towards space

Beijing launched its independent space station program after being turned away from the International Space Station, largely due to U.S. objections. China ‘s space program agency already successfully performed two space dockings last November. USA observe the Chinese space program cautiosly as the issue of sharing military links and technology with an economic and political rival is sensitive one.

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