Chinese Crew Blasts Off for Space Mission
Oct 11 9:11 PM US/Eastern Email this story
By STEPHANIE HOOAssociated Press Writer
JIAYUGUAN, China
Two years after China became only the third nation to launch a human into orbit, a pair of astronauts blasted off Wednesday on a longer, riskier mission after receiving a farewell visit from Premier Wen Jiabao.
Wen said the "glorious and sacred mission" would demonstrate China's national confidence and ability.
A rocket carrying the Shenzhou 6 capsule and the astronauts blasted off Wednesday from the remote base in China's northwest. In a break with the space agency's typical secrecy, the launch was shown live on Chinese state television.
The mission, reportedly due to last up to five days, is a key prestige project for China's communist leaders, who have justified the expense of a manned space program by saying that it will drive economic development. It will be more complicated than the first flight in which carried one astronaut and lasted just 21 1/2 hours.
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