China’s third manned space mission will be delayed by six months as scientists work on creating a spacesuit that can withstand a spacewalk, state media reported. Having announced last year that Shenzhou 7 would launch at some point in 2007, the government is now likely to postpone this date until 2008. The mission is to be manned by three astronauts and the authorities are particularly keen on seeing it feature China’s first ever spacewalk. The country’s first manned space mission took place in 2003 and a second, longer mission carrying two astronauts took place last year.
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