Also shots of a possible SZ-9 crew in the descent module simulator. This is new footage and not archive take from SZ-7. I don't recognise either of the men who are seen quite clearly. The person to the left of the screen could be a man or a woman.
China plans to launch two more spacecraft - Shenzhou IX and Shenzhou X - this year to further test the technologies. Previously, officials had only been certain that the Shenzhou X spacecraft would carry astronauts on board, the first Chinese female astronaut likely being among them.
The tiny graphics at the bottom of the picture on http://bbs.voc.com.cn/topic-3685609-1-1.html seems to suggest we can expect further spacewalks during the Tiangong era...
So, now NO boarding of Tiangong-1...Another case of garbled info/translation issues, or has the actual flight plan changed?
Safety concerns was mentioned too. In case of emergency, one astronaut on board Shenzhou means maybe faster reaction to such situation. For next flight it seems that all crew will transfer to Tiangong.
(...) this says that it is hoped to fly a female astronaut on SZ-9, although the final decision will depend their on examination results and will be made at the last moment.
A spokesperson for the Chinese Manned Space Exploration office has announced today that Shenzhou 9 and its crew of three will perform a mission that includes a manual docking test and perform experiments on board Tiangong 1. Launch will occur sometime between June and August.
China launch schedule2012June - CZ-2F/G - JSLC, 921 - SZ-9 Shenzhou-9July - CZ-3C - XSLC, LC2 - TL-1C Tianlian-1CChanges on February 24Changes on February 26Changes on February 27Changes on March 3