China's astronaut team is to start training in March for the nation's second manned space flight on Shenzhou VI, reported Beijing Youth Daily on Monday.

The 14 astronauts have been resting since Yang Liwei, a member of the team, completed China's first manned space flight in October last year. They have only done light physical training and reviewed flight operations.

The training for Shenzhou VI would be mainly based on the training courses of Shenzhou V, said Huang Weifen, director in charge of selection and training of astronauts in China. However, some changes would be made as two astronauts were expected to fly in Shenzhou VI, Beijing Youth Daily quoted Huang as saying.

The 14 astronauts, including Yang Liwei, will be divided into seven pairs according to their characteristics and cooperation. Three pairs will form a new team for China's second manned space flight and, finally one pair will fly Shenzhou VI.

China has made plans to select and train new astronauts as the 14 astronauts are all over 30. The selection would be conducted in two or three years, said the newspaper.

(Xinhua News Agency February 3, 2004)