Orbit Has Decayed

China's Shenzhou VI spacecraft will have to undergo a course correction Friday morning, because it's orbit is so low that the ship is being pulled toward the Earth, space officials said. While describing the correction as a "normal technical operation," they warn scientists and engineers to be "cautious."

Chinese space officials said the Soyuz-like spaceship was otherwise functioning well since its Wednesday launch.

The Shenzhou VI carries two astronauts, Fei Junlong and Nie Haisheng -- who celebrated his 41st birthday in space Thursday. His daughter, Tianxiang, was on the radio singing him Happy Birthday.

"It's marvelous around here. The Earth looks beautiful," Nie told his 11-year-old daughter, according to the BBC.

"May you carry out the task entrusted to you by the motherland and return smoothly," said his wife, Wang Jie. At that, China's official Xinhua news agency reported, Fei's eyes filled with tears.

NASA sent its congratulations to Beijing on Thursday, saying China had earned a place alongside the US and Russia as part of the space "elite." China attaches great importance to its space program, citing it as a source of national pride. Chinese officials hope to put a space station in orbit within five years and eventually send a man to the Moon.

FMI: www.cnsa.gov.cn/main_e.asp