Astronauts meet HK women representatives

HONG KONG - Chinese astronauts Jing Haipeng, Liu Wang, and Liu Yang met with some 180 women representatives here Monday at a tea gathering, sharing their stories of reaching the goal of flying to the space.

The three astronauts who accomplished a historic space docking in June continued their four-day visit in Hong Kong with the Tiangong-1/Shenzhou IX?delegation on Monday.

The stories of how the three were being brought up and selected as astronauts were played at the gathering during which Liu Yang, China's first woman entering the space, wept as she recalled episodes of her childhood.

"The road was paved step by step," Liu Yang said she was influenced by her parents that one should "endeavor and stick it out to accomplish every task."

When asked about her next ambition, Liu Yang said she will prepare for another aerospace mission. She also mentioned that she was not worried about the space travel would affect the chance of pregnancy as many female astronauts have become mothers. "I will let it takes its course," said the 33-year-old spacewoman who got married in 2004.

The crew's commander Jing Haipeng showed his appreciation of Liu Yang's working performance and caring character. "It should be we (the two male astronauts) who take care of her, but she was always the one who served us the meal."

Jing added that the reason of China developing aerospace is to peacefully capitalize on the space to make contributions to human beings.

Liu Wang, controlled the Shenzhou IX?spacecraft to dock with the Tiangong-1 space lab module, said both work and family are important and he especially thanked his wife for her continuous support.

At the end of the session, Liu Yang wrapped up by saying that she was proud of being a Chinese female and was honored to represent them to fly to the space.

Members of the delegation will conclude their visit in Hong Kong this afternoon and set for Macao for another visit.