The daily necessities prepared for Chinese taikonauts on Shenzhou VI are expensive. Even a pen costs 1,000 yuan (US$122), higher than the monthly salary of a Chinese urban citizen.

According to chief doctor of China Space Center Li Yongzhi, two kits of daily used articles were prepared for each of the taikonauts, Fei Junlong and Nie Haisheng, aboard the orbiting Shenzhou VI.

Their pens are expensive because they are equipped with pressure device, which ensure the pen to work in zero-gravity environment, said Li.

Official figures of last year show the average monthly salary of Chinese urban citizens were 785 yuan (US$96), while that of rural residents were 358 yuan (US$44).

Other articles in their kits include oral cleansing "chewing gum", tooth cover made of germfree gauze, edible toothpaste, anti-radiation cream, medicine and notebooks, which are also specially made at high cost, he said.

The diary written on the notebooks are private records of Fei and Nie. No one is allowed to read without their permission after they return, according to the chief doctor.

(Xinhua News Agency October 15, 2005)