China's next space flight scheduled for September
3 September 2008
The launch date for China's third manned space flight will be moved forward to September, AFP reported, citing Hong Kong newspaper Wen Wei Po. The launch of the Shenzhou VIII is expected to take place between the end of the Paralympic Games on September 17 and the National Day holiday on October 1. The launch schedule has been changed before, with state media previously hinting at an October or November launch. One of the three "taikonauts" (astronauts) on board the flight will conduct China's first space walk, state media previously reported. In 2003, China sent its first man, Yang Liwei, into orbit. Two more astronauts spent five days in orbit in 2005.