One giant leap for womankind

China's first astronaut, Yang Liwei, who blasted off six years ago, may soon see a woman follow him on the long journey into space.

"The selection (of China's first woman astronaut) is underway I believe Chinese women will be seen in space in the near future," Yang said during a webchat with xinhuanet.com on Tuesday.

Yang, now 44, made history when he voyaged beyond the planet's atmosphere for 21 hours aboard the Shenzhou V spaceship in 2003.