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China to Send 3 Astronauts to New Space Station
China plans to send three astronauts to its new space station later this month.
The plans were confirmed to state television by Yang Liwei, a chief designer for China's manned space program. Yang was the country's first astronaut to launch into orbit in 2003.
Three astronauts are to complete a three-month mission on the new space station, called Tianhe. It is the third and largest space station China has built. Its main module was launched into orbit April 29.
Last Sunday, a self-piloted spacecraft arrived at the space station carrying supplies. Chinese officials said the Tianzhou-2 spacecraft reached the station eight hours after lanching from Hainan, an island in the South China Sea. The spacecraft was carrying space suits, living supplies, equipment and fuel.
The astronauts will be carried to space aboard the country's Shenzhou 12 spacecraft. It will launch from China's Jiuquan base in the northwest.
Yang did not provide the identities of the astronauts or give a flight date in his comments to China Central Television. But he said the astronauts were expected to practice spacewalks, complete repairs and carry out some scientific operations.
When asked whether any women were in the crew, Yang said none would be joining the upcoming mission. "But missions after that all will have them," he added.
China does not take part in activities aboard the International Space Station, largely because of U.S. objections. U.S. officials are suspicious of the Chinese space program's secrecy and its connections to the country's military.
The Chinese space agency plans a total of 11 launches through the end of next year. The missions will transport the remaining modules for the 70-ton space station and transport more supplies and crew.
China has sent 11 astronauts -- including two women -- into space, beginning with Yang's flight in October 2003. The first female astronaut was Liu Yang in 2012.
All of China's astronauts to date have been pilots from the ruling Communist Party's military branch, the People's Liberation Army.
Yang said the astronauts will practice making spacewalks with two people outside the station at one time. China's first spacewalk was made in 2008 by astronaut Zhai Zhigang outside the Shenzhou 7 spacecraft.
The space station mission marks the latest step forward for China's space program.
Last month, China made history by successfully landing a spacecraft on Mars. The Tianwen-1 spacecraft carried a robotic explorer, called Zhurong. The explorer, or rover, is expected to measure atmospheric conditions and magnetic forces during its search for signs of ancient life on the Red Planet.
I'm Bryan Lynn.
