china space 26may2

(REUTERS) China is reportedly in the final stages of grooming 14 fighter pilots for their debuts as the country's first astronauts.

China's Wenhui Daily newspaper quotes Shanghai Academy of Space Flight Technology researcher Liu Zongying as saying that the astronauts-to-be undergoing a final series of physical and technical exercises at Beijing Space City were picked from among China's finest pilots.

The first of them could be sent into space by 2005.

Liu is quoted as saying that the 14 astronauts are on average about 30 years old and, contrary to "popular perception that they ought to be tall and strapping," all stand about 5 foot 6 inches high and weigh in at about 110 pounds.

That's said to be because the spacecraft they would use, relying almost entirely on Chinese technology, might not be able to bear the weight of larger men or provide enough room inside.

"Unlike those in the International Space Station, Chinese astronauts won't be able to take a shower or get a haircut on the relatively small modules," said Liu, in an interview with the Shanghai Daily.

China is doggedly pursuing an ambitious space program, hoping to realize its expensive dream of becoming the third nation to put people into space by 2005, and is determined to complete a mission to the moon by 2010.

The Wenhui Daily reports China is also determined to use as much homegrown technology as possible - from 387 square foot Chinese-designed solar panels to more than 20 types of food stuffed in "compressed bricks and toothpaste tubes."

Each spacesuit cost more than $1.2 million to make.

Beijing reportedly spent more than two years selecting and preparing its first batch of 14 astronauts, two of whom have even been to Russia for training.

Last month, China's Shenzhou III spacecraft successfully completed the country's third unmanned space flight. Chinese state media reports the Shenzhou III landed in Mongolia after orbiting the globe 108 times