China announced plans to launch the next manned space mission somewhere between September 25 and September 30, the Xinhua news agency reported at the end of last week. According to a spokesperson for the Chinese space agency, the crew is prepared for the mission, and one of the astronauts will even conduct a spacewalk.

Shenzhou-7 will be launched from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwestern Gansu Province, and will be the first Chinese mission to perform a spacewalk. “All the major systems involved in the launching are now in the final preparation,” the spokesperson said.

“The main tests for the spacecraft, the Long-March II-F rocket, suits for the spacewalk and a satellite accompanying the fly have also been finished,” he also added, the Xinhua news agency informs.

The Shenzhou-7 spacecraft will have 3 people aboard, one of which will conduct the spacewalk. In addition to that, the Chinese space agency chose other three astronauts as substitutes.

The latest reports on the Chinese space mission seem to be more credible than previous ones. Shenzhou-7 was expected to be launched in October 2008, but new rumors revealed a new launch window, between September 17 and October 1.

Chinese sources see Yang Liwei as one of the possible candidates for the mission, although there is no official confirmation of that. In addition to that, it appears that China is sure of its success, or at least that is the first idea coming to one’s mind after listening to rumors that commemorative posts and stamps have already been printed.

China launched the first Shenzhou manned mission in October 2003, after several unmanned flights had been performed. Shenzhou-6 was China’s second manned flight, and was launched on October 2005.