A 30-part TV series The Shenzhou will be on debut
broadcast by satellite TV channels in Beijing and Shanghai Thursday
night to tell the story of China's decade-long manned space
program.
The TV series is the first of its kind to depict the development
of the Shenzhen series of manned spacecrafts, including details
which were formerly confidential, said director Ning Haiqiang.
With the launch of the Shenzhou V?two years ago, China
became the third country in the world to carry out manned space
flight, following the former Soviet Union and the United
States.
China's first astronaut Yang Liwei, who made China's maiden
manned space flight in October 2003 was counsellor for the TV
series production.
Production of the TV series synchronized with the drilling of
Shenzhou VI astronauts. It artistically reflects the mysterious
selection and drilling life of astronauts, including stories of
female astronaut candidates.
"Yang's behavior represents the image of China's highly-educated
astronauts, " said actor Wang Qiang who acts as Lei Dongjin, a
character based on real-life stories of Yang Liwei.
(Xinhua News Agency November 11, 2005)