China successfully launched its first manned spacecraft "Shenzhou V" from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center and sent its first astronaut to the space with "Long March CZ-2 F" carrier rocket at 9:00 am Beijing Time October 15, and later the spacecraft entered its orbit.

The astronaut Yang Liwei, 38, was born to a teacher's family in Suizhong County in the northeastern Liaoning Province. The 1.68-meter Yang is a member of the Astronaut Team of PLA (People's Liberation Army). As a Chinese astronaut of the first generation, he was an excellent fighter pilot of PLA air force with the flight experience of 1350 hours. In 1998, he was selected as an astronaut. After five years' hard training and study, he stood out excellent in all of his studies. Before the launch, the command center of the manned space flight made the decision that Yang was to carry out the first manned flight. According to the plan, Yang would take the spacecraft to fly around the earth for 14 times and then to land in the middle of the Inner Mongolia.

At present, China has 14 astronauts, who are selected from among 1,500 pilots in active service of the Chinese air force. As China's first group of astronauts, they are all qualified with every quality and comprehensive abilities for space flight after receiving tough training in basic theories, stamina, psychological quality and specialized technology. China has built up the center for the selection and training of astronauts, developed a series of products and facilities, such as the centrifuge, the analogue training machine and spacesuits. Beijing Research Institute of Space Medical Science has taking up the task for building up a series of astronauts.

Shenzhou V is working well. At 9:34 am, Yang Liwei, the astronaut navigating the craft, told us " I feel good."

At 9:42 am on Oct 15, Li Jinai, chief commander of China manned aerospace project, declared the success of launch of Shenzhou V manned spacecraft.

(People's Daily October 15, 2003)