Zhang Jianqi, Vice Director of Shenzhou 7 Space Program said "We expected the rescue mission to finish within 24 hours, or 48 hours at the most. The process took only less than one hour in this drill. We may set up a landing area in the sea in the future."

Xu Zuyuan, Vice Minister of Transport Ministry said "Our rescue mission will be called off once the spacecraft reaches its orbiting track."

The manned spacecraft Shenzhou-7 would be launched later this month from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwestern Gansu Province. The mission will be the first space walk by Chinese astronauts.

(CCTV September 12, 2008)