CHINA: Liu Yang gears up to become first China's first woman in space

Record ID: 838753

  • Title: CHINA: Liu Yang gears up to become first China's first woman in space
  • Date: 16th June 2012
  • Summary: JIUQUAN SATELLITE LAUNCH CENTRE, GANSU PROVINCE (JUNE 15, 2012) (REUTERS) ***CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** THREE ASTRONAUTS WALKING INTO NEWS BRIEFING, WAVING CHINA'S FIRST FEMALE ASTRONAUT TO GO INTO SPACE LIU YANG WAVING ASTRONAUTS TAKING SEATS ASTRONAUT JING HAIPENG STANDING UP ASTRONAUT LIU WANG STANDING UP CAMERA TAKING PHOTO OF LIU YANG LIU YANG STANDING UP, SALUTING NEWS BRIEFING IN PROGRESS (SOUNDBITE) (Mandarin) CHINA'S FIRST FEMALE ASTRONAUT TO GO INTO SPACE LIU YANG SAYING: "I want to thank everyone for their care. Thank you for the confidence put in me by the motherland and the people, for giving me this chance to represent China's millions of women by going into space. For this, I feel limitless pride" JOURNALIST ASKING QUESTIONS (SOUNDBITE) (Mandarin) CHINA'S FIRST FEMALE ASTRONAUT TO GO INTO SPACE LIU YANG SAYING: "There are many tasks organised for this space mission. In completing our work, I want to use my heart to experience the unique environment of space, to appreciate the intriguing scenery of space, see more of our Earth, see our beautiful home " THREE ASTRONAUTS SEATED (SOUNDBITE) (Mandarin) ASTRONAUT LIU WANG SAYING: "I have faith our country's manned space mission technology is first class, our engineers and scientific researchers are also first class, and our Chinese astronauts are also first class. Because of this, I have total confidence in completing this manual docking mission" MEDIA SEATED (SOUNDBITE) (Mandarin) ASTRONAUT JING HAIPENG SAYING: "I believe that through the flourishing development of our country's manned space mission, astronauts in the future will return from space many times and complete missions many times, it will become a common occurrence. And everyone please rest assured I will not let you down" ASTRONAUTS STANDING UP THREE ASTRONAUTS' FACES ASTRONAUTS LEAVING SPOKESWOMAN FOR THE PRESS OFFICE OF CHINA'S MANNED SPACE MISSION WU PING WALKING INTO NEWS BRIEFING BRIEFING IN PROGRESS (SOUNDBITE) (Mandarin) SPOKESWOMAN FOR THE PRESS OFFICE OF CHINA'S MANNED SPACE PROGRAMME WU PING SAYING: "I can say that a female astronaut flying for the first time is not only a technical breakthrough, but also has social significance " MEDIA (SOUNDBITE) (Mandarin) SPOKESWOMAN FOR THE PRESS OFFICE OF CHINA'S MANNED SPACE PROGRAMME WU PING SAYING: "The mission headquarters has decided after discussion that Shenzhou-9 manned spaceship shall be launched at 18 hours, 37 minutes on June 16th" PHOTOGRAPHER TAKING PHOTO SATELLITE IN WU'S HANDS WU AND MAN HOLDING SATELLITE EXTERIOR OF BUILDING CHINESE NATIONAL FLAG
  • Embargoed: 1st July 2012 13:00
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  • Location: China
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  • Country: China
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  • Reuters ID: LVAEI84V89E0R1CQVYV1FGFQQYC0
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  • Story Text: China will send its first woman into outer space this week in a blaze of pride, marking another step for the rising power's plans to secure a long-term manned foothold in space.
    Liu Yang, a 33-year-old fighter pilot, will join two other astronauts aboard the Shenzhou-9 spacecraft when it lifts off from a remote Gobi Desert launch site early on Saturday (June 16) evening.
    On Friday (June 15), the eve of the launch, Liu Yang, addressed media for the first time at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch centre in northwestern China.
    "I want to thank everyone for their care. Thank you for the confidence put in me by the motherland and the people, for giving me this chance to represent China's millions of women by going into space. For this, I feel limitless pride," Liu Yang said, before receiving a round of applause.
    Medical experts who helped select the crew of the Shenzhou 9, have said that female astronauts must meet the same criteria as men, and then some, according to the China Daily.
    Female Chinese astronauts must be married and preferably be mothers, the newspaper said, citing concerns that radiation would "harm their fertility".
    China's latest space mission has attracted even more national attention than usual with Liu's presence.
    "There are many tasks organised for this space mission. In completing our work, I want to use my heart to experience the unique environment of space, to appreciate the intriguing scenery of space, see more of our Earth, see our beautiful home," she told reporters.
    Liu Yang and fellow astronauts Liu Wang and Jing Haipeng will attempt a manned docking with the Tiangong (Heavenly Palace) 1 module, launched last September and part of China's exploratory preparations for a space lab.
    China aims to have a fully-fledged space station by about 2020.
    "I have faith our country's manned space mission technology is first class, our engineers and scientific researchers are also first class, and our Chinese astronauts are also first class. Because of this, I have total confidence in completing this manual docking mission," said Liu Wang.
    Rendezvous and docking exercises between the two vessels will be an important hurdle in China's efforts to conquer the technological and logistical skills needed to run a full space lab that can house astronauts for long stretches.
    "I believe that through the flourishing development of our country's manned space mission, astronauts in the future will return from space many times and complete missions many times, it will become a common occurrence. And everyone please rest assured I will not let you down," said Jing Haipeng.
    In an earlier news briefing, Wu Ping, spokeswoman for the press office of China's manned space program, said it was important that China had a woman in space.
    "I can say that a female astronaut flying for the first time is not only a technical breakthrough, but also has social significance," she said.
    She also announced the designated time Saturday's launch.
    "The mission headquarters has decided after discussion that Shenzhou-9 manned spaceship shall be launched at 18 hours, 37 minutes on June 16th," she said.
    Beijing is still far from catching up with the established space superpowers -- the United States and Russia -- but the docking mission will be the latest show of China's growing prowess in space.
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