A 30-part TV series The Shenzhou will be on debut broadcast by satellite TV channels in Beijing and Shanghai Thursday night to tell the story of China's decade-long manned space program.

The TV series is the first of its kind to depict the development of the Shenzhen series of manned spacecrafts, including details which were formerly confidential, said director Ning Haiqiang.

With the launch of the Shenzhou V two years ago, China became the third country in the world to carry out manned space flight, following the former Soviet Union and the United States.

China's first astronaut Yang Liwei, who made China's maiden manned space flight in October 2003 was counsellor for the TV series production.

Production of the TV series synchronized with the drilling of Shenzhou VI astronauts. It artistically reflects the mysterious selection and drilling life of astronauts, including stories of female astronaut candidates.

"Yang's behavior represents the image of China's highly-educated astronauts, " said actor Wang Qiang who acts as Lei Dongjin, a character based on real-life stories of Yang Liwei.

(Xinhua News Agency November 11, 2005)