Shenzhou VI has made its 36th circle around the Earth by 16:00 PM today, after flying 1.51 million kilometers in space for 55 hours.

The two astronauts on board, apparently in good condition in video pictures transmitted back from space, have finished a series of scientific experiments as planned. The spacecraft, flying at 7.8 km per second, successfully changed its trajectory from an oval to a round one on its 5th circle.

Shenzhou VI underwent an orbit correction early on Friday morning to restore the vessel to its original trajectory after it had deviated from it slightly, according to Beijing Aerospace Command and Control Center.

The operation began at 5:56 AM during its 30th circle and succeeded in getting it back on course in a matter of seconds, Xinhua News Agency reported today.

The spacecraft, which blasted off on Wednesday morning for China's second manned space flight, had been moving a little closer to Earth than intended.

Experts said the correction was a normal technical operation and that similar tasks would be possible in future if necessary.

Shenzhou VI is expected to travel in space for up to five days, far exceeding the time spent there during China's first manned flight in 2003, when astronaut Yang Liwei was in space aboard Shenzhou V for nearly 21.5 hours.

(Xinhua News Agency October 14, 2005)