Posted: Mon, Nov 1, 2004, 8:26 AM ET (1326 GMT)
China plans to launch its next manned spacecraft next year, sending two people on a five-day mission, Chinese media reported Monday. The Shenzhou 6 mission is scheduled for launch some time next year, although Chinese officials offered no more specific date. The spacecraft will carry two people who will remain in orbit for five days. The crew will spend some of their time in the spacecraft's orbital module, performing unspecified experiments. China launched its first manned mission, Shenzhou 5, into orbit in October 2003; that spacecraft carried one person who spent nearly a day in orbit.

Related Links:

•  Xinhua article
•  AFP article