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Female Astronauts Look to 2010

Chinese female astronauts will soon be reaching for the stars along with their male counterparts, an official with China's space programme said on July 25.

They will embark on a space mission no later than 2010, working as flight commanders or on-board engineers, said Hu Shixiang, deputy chief commander of China's Manned Space Programme.

The selection process, which will begin in 2006, will select at least four female astronauts, but will not necessarily favour professional pilots, Hu said, while attending a reception for three American astronauts, who arrived in Beijing last week.

In 2005, China's Air Force selected about 30 female pilots, some of whom reportedly intend to be astronauts, but Hu's statement indicates that China will focus on women with backgrounds in science and education when looking for candidates.

In the near future, the norm will be for Chinese astronauts, men and women, to work together as partners on journeys to outer space, he said.                     

Zhang Qingwei, president of the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation, said that with the development of China's manned space programme, the country will increase scientific research in space. Some women specializing in medicine, new materials, biology and other disciplines will have a chance to become astronauts.

Mae C. Jemison, one of three visiting US astronauts said: "China should have women astronauts as soon as possible, even earlier than next year, because you lose out on 50 percent of the talents that are available if you don't have women included."