Search on for likely astronauts

China will groom a new generation of astronauts for its future space programs, Hong Kong's Wen Wei Po newspaper reported yesterday.

New blood will be needed in four to five years' time, as the present generation of astronauts, including China's first, Yang Liwei, are all in their 40s, it said.

Yang, who is also deputy director of the China Astronaut Research and Training Center, told the newspaper about 14 people will be recruited.