He said the shuttle would be assembled at the launch center after experts finish examining its air tightness and electric properties, as well as conducting a series of other tests.

The experts had already run two rounds of tests on more than 5,000 pieces of equipment at the launch center to ensure reliability and the safety of the ground facilities.

 

 Astronauts receive underwater training for a possible space walk during upcoming Shenzhou VII mission. (File photo)

China successfully put two manned spacecraft into orbit in 2003 and 2005 respectively. Shenzhou VII was expected to be launched in October, although the exact date was not available.

Earlier reports said a crew of six astronauts had been chosen for the mission, with three manning the spacecraft and three substitutes.

Compared with Shenzhou VI, China's second manned space mission with a crew of two, Shenzhou VII has more stringent technological requirements: one of its three astronauts is scheduled to conduct a space walk.

(CCTV, Xinhua News Agency, China.org.cn July 11, 2008)