Science Article

China sent its first female astronaut into space on a mission to manually dock the Shenzhou- 9 spacecraft with an orbiting laboratory as part of the country’s plan to build a space station by 2020.

More than 50 female astronauts from seven countries have gone into space to date. The longest space flight by a female astronaut lasted 188 days. All countries that have completed manned space missions have attached great significance to their respective first female astronauts' maiden space flights, including the former Soviet Union's first female cosmonaut Valentina Tereshkova and Sally Ride, the first U.S. woman astrianut in space, and Iranian-American Anousheh Ansari, the first private-sector female space explorer. Now the name of Liu Yang will be added to space history books.

Liu Yang, 33, is a People's Liberation Army (PLA) Air Force major. She was a veteran pilot with 1,680 hours of flying experience and the deputy head of a flight unit of the PLA's Air Force before being recruited as a potential taikonaut in May 2010. Air-force pilot Liu Yang and two male astronauts blasted off at 6:37 p.m. Beijing time yesterday from Jiuquan in the northwestern Gansu province, according to a live broadcast on China’s Central Television. 

China will launch its Shenzhou-9 manned spacecraft at 6:37 p.m. Saturday (6:37 a.m. in Washington), if the launch preperations continue on schedule. The three-member taikonaut for the Shenzhou 9 mission is Jing Haipeng, Liu Wang and Liu Yang.

They will complete an automated docking with the Tiangong-1, or “Heavenly Palace,” laboratory module in two days and will then attempt a manual docking that is considered a major step in the space station program, the state-run Xinhua News Agency reported.

Chinese state media have lauded Liu’s accomplishments during the past week, framing her selection as part of the country’s broader push to expand its space program while other nations cut back. China aims to put a person on the moon by 2020 as well as operate a permanent manned space station.