Grape is one of some 800 kinds of earth plants that have had their seed strains experimented with in the space by Chinese scientists in the past 18 years since 1987, according to official figures.

In present China, many commoners like Li have benefited from space technology as it has become one of the few nations able to shot their own rocket carriers and send satellites and space vehicles into the orbit.

"With telecommunications satellites in orbit, more than 100 kinds of modern businesses including cell phone and remote medical service are now available, which have largely altered the way of our life," says Gu Yidong, designer-in-chief of the application system of China's manned space program.

Since China launched its first pilot telecom-satellite in 1984,satellite-based TV and radio programs have covered over 90 percent of the Chinese population.

With the help of telecom-satellites, the Earth has become a village where people can learn about international news and watch an Olympic Game simultaneously, share information about natural calamities and climatic conditions worldwide, and inspect natural resources.

"The outer space is called 'the Fourth Territory' for the Humankind," acknowledged Gu, who also said he believes that space technology could bring human beings a better life in the future.

With the increasingly wide use of space technology, scientists can develop a lot of new things nonexistent before, according to Hu Wenrui, a member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the International Space Academy.

"Every time a new structure of protein is analyzed, a new type of pharmaceutical product comes into being," says Hu, adding space technology can also help cut the cost of industrial production.

China plans to send its second manned spacecraft later this month, ushering in a new wave of space craze among the Chinese people.

(Xinhua News Agency October 9, 2005)