Now well over a year since China's first manned spaceflight, more information is slowly being released about their next foray into space. Dubbed Shenzhou 6, the flight is currently scheduled for launch this fall.

An artist's concept of Shenzhou in orbit. Credit: Simon Zajc

There has been much speculation about this mission almost since the moment astronaut -- or yuhangyuan for "space voyager" -- Yang Liwei landed aboard Shenzhou 5 in October 2003. Reports from Chinese media quoting senior officials seem to confirm previous rumors that the next flight will occur before the end of 2005.

The official Xinhua news organization quoted Huang Chunping, commander of the rocket segment of China's manned space program, as saying Shenzhou 6 is expected to be ready to launch this fall, near the two-year anniversary of Shenzhou 5.

In addition, plans call for a crew of two to be aboard the spacecraft. Officials say they are training five pairs of two astronauts for consideration to fly on the mission. A final decision on just who will be on Shenzhou 6 will likely not be made until "the last minute."

Another change from the original flight will be the planned mission duration. Shenzhou 5 orbited the Earth fourteen times over 21 hours, while Shenzhou 6 will attempt to spend at least five days in space before returning to a parachuted touchdown.

Huang said the re-entry module where the crew will spend much of their time during launch and landing will provide "more than enough" space for the comfort of the two astronauts. The still-unknown duo will also enter the orbital module for the first time to conduct several scientific experiments, but the reports confirmed there are no plans for a spacewalk.

Two other changes will be incorporated into the vehicle, including a video transmission system that will record live footage of the separation of the Long March rocket and Shenzhou 6 as the craft reaches orbit. Upgrades were also added to improve the performance of the launch escape tower that would carry the astronauts away from an errant booster shortly after liftoff.

Over the next few years, more missions are planned to gradually expand China's capability to send humans into space. Previous reports from senior officials in the past few months indicated spacewalks and docking tests could be carried out in subsequent years.