The satellite control center in Northwest China has started training recovery teams for the third manned space mission scheduled for next year.

Yao Liang, head of the rescue and recovery team at the center in Xi'an, said their work - which is the last step of a manned space program - mainly comprises locating the space capsule that re-enters the earth's atmosphere, rescuing astronauts and transporting the capsule from the landing site to the control center.

The mission is expected to send three astronauts into space aboard the Shenzhou VII spacecraft, Qi Faren, chief designer of China's first five Shenzhou spaceships, told China Daily earlier this year.

It will orbit the Earth for up to five days, said Qi, chief consultant for Shenzhou VII.

The astronauts are scheduled to perform work outside the capsule such as installing equipment and "tightening screws," sources said.

Yao said initial training started after the Shenzhou VI space mission in 2005 and dozens of workers are being trained.

"Compared with the previous two manned space missions, the Shenzhou VII space mission, which includes a space walk, is more complex. We have been organizing training in accordance with new requirements, learning to operate new equipment on the spaceship and deal with any possible hitches," Yao said.

There are plans to have astronauts conduct extra vehicular operations and experiment on spacecraft rendezvous and docking in the years through 2010, according to China's Space Activities 2006, a government policy document released by the State Council Information Office last October.

China Daily-Xinhua

(China Daily 08/01/2007 page2)