China to Launch Woman into Space for the First Time
China plans to send its first female astronaut into space on Saturday.
Liu Yang, a member of the People's Liberation Army, was chosen to be part of a three-person crew that will blast off into outer space for China's 13-day Shenzhou 9 mission.
The team's mission consists of them traveling to Tiangong-1, a space laboratory module that was launched in September of 2011 that is currently orbiting the Earth. Their task is to test the module's functionality and see if it can efficiently recycle its own oxygen and water.
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On the ship, Liu will receive special privileges, including her own private bedroom and an extra ration of water for cleaning.
"She will be able to take a sponge bath with more water than that for her male counterparts, according to international conventions, and even bring some specially made cosmetics into space," said Pang Zhihao from the China Academy of Space Technology to the state media.
Liu's background seems to mostly be top secret, however, it has been reported that she earned her stripes as a hero in 2003 when she calmly landed a jet after its right engine was damaged in a bird strike.
Other publications have spoken to friends of Liu, who have said that she was a good student and a talented volleyball player.
Her involvement in the mission has yet not been completely confirmed, and will not be until a few hours before the mission.
There is a possibility that another candidate named Wang Yaping could be the first woman sent into space by China. But that remains to be determined.
Both of their names were confirmed for the mission last year when their signatures appeared on an envelope holding the commemorative first edition astronaut stamp.
