The successful return of the spacecraft Shenzhou II has created nationwide enthusiasm about traveling into space, according to China Radio International.
And some major newspapers, including the Jiefang Daily and the Science and Technology Daily, are running stories about some of China's astronauts-in-training.
The Jiefang Daily says four astronauts are undergoing intensive training, preparing to head out into space in the near future.
The astronauts have been selected from nearly 1,000 Chinese fighter pilots after a series of strict exams and tests.
The paper says other preparations for space flight are also underway, including medical tests on animals and their cells.
(People's Daily 01/21/2001)
