Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

DATE=1-17-01

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

NUMBER=2-271425

TITLE=CHINA / SPACE (L-O)

BYLINE=JIM RANDLE

DATELINE=BEIJING

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: Chinese officials say they took a major step closer to

sending people into space Tuesday with the successful test of a

large spacecraft that circled the earth 108 times and landed safely. V-O-A's Jim Randle reports from Beijing.

TEXT: State television reported that the "Shenzhou-2" landed in

Inner Mongolia, early Tuesday evening. The craft was launched

January 10th, and carried a number of scientific experiments,

including investigations in the fields of astronomy, physics and the impact of space on plants and animals.

This is the second test in a series that officials say may lead

China to put a person in earth orbit in five years. The Shenzhou is said to have 'the same technology' as manned space vehicles.

So far, only the former Soviet Union and the United States have been able to put people in space, but China has been working on its space program for 45 years and has sent dozens of unmanned satellites into orbit, including many for other nations.

A scholar who studies strategic issues says the United States and Russia used skills they learned in civilian space programs to improve their weapons and reconissance capabilities. Luke Warren, of the Council for a Livable World, says China could do the same thing. He says China's progress in space might prompt Washington to step up efforts to protect spy satellites and communications craft that are the vital eyes and ears of the U-S military. (Signed).

NEB/JR/FC