Yangs flight catapulting China into an elite group of nations capable of independent human spaceflight: Russia orbited its first cosmonaut in 1961, followed by the United States in 1962.
Early shakeout flights
Xinhuanet quoted Wang Yongzhi, noted as the chief designer of Chinas manned space program, as saying that the Shenzhou 6 would take two people into space for a flight lasting five to seven days.
Now being trained in China is a cadre of 14 space pilots, from which two will be picked for that nations second piloted mission. According to Xinhuanet, during the mission the crew will float into the spaceships forward orbital module to conduct experiments.
Chinese space authorities have repeatedly stated that early shakeout flights of Shenzhou vehicles will lead to space docking of hardware, as well as establishing a permanent laboratory in Earth orbit.
Left in space: orbital module
Meanwhile, as China moves forward on its next human spaceflight, the Shenzhou 5 orbital module continues to whirl about Earth. It was left in space after Taikonaut Yang returned to Earth in his reentry capsule.
The module, outfitted with its own solar power panels and rocket motors, has been maneuvered a number of times over the last several months. The orbiting capsule, stuffed with science gear and other equipment, has completed its work after 152 days, according to China Central Television this week.
Phillip Clark, a British-based specialist in Soviet/Russian and China space prowess, said the Shenzhou 5s module will reenter to Earth in some 75 days, give or take a week or so.
Lofty lunar plans?
Clark said he was initially surprised at the long gap between the first and second piloted space jaunts. "But I think the current Chinese five-year plan simply calls for two manned missions, and maybe the first one came earlier than expected. The test program had fewer problems than expected," he told SPACE.com.
Chinese space officials have stated that there will be no docking trials on next years flight. But Clark senses that the Shenzhou 6 orbital module left in space could be used for a latch up using a Shenzhou 7 vehicle that could be launched late next year.
"Shenzhou 7 could even see the first Chinese space walk, as well as being their first three manned flight," Clark said. On the other hand, he added, the Chinese have split the 14-man team now in training to seven teams of two men each. So perhaps they are planning two-man missions for the foreseeable future, he speculated.
Looking deeper into the future, Clark said that Chinas new generation launch vehicle under development appears well-suited for hurling Taikonauts out of Earth orbit.
That planned booster could launch a complete three-man Shenzhou craft on an around-the-Moon and Earth-return trajectory, "if the Chinese want to do this," Clark said.
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