China plans to send woman into space

BEIJING: After sending its first man into space, China now aims to put its first woman into orbit, state media said on March 7, in a report apparently timed to coincide with International Women’s Day.

“China will soon start to train its own female astronauts,” Gu Xiulian, president of the All-China Women’s Federation, said according to Xinhua news agency.

Gu said it was her idea to start training women for space travel, and that she put forward the suggestion after China’s first successful manned space flight in October last year.

“This suggestion has been accepted by the central authorities,” Gu said according to Xinhua.

Source: Business Recorder

Date:3/8/2004