October 14, 2003
China Launches Manned Spacecraft
China launched its first manned spacecraft today at 9 am, Beijing time. The Shenzhou-5 blasted off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in Gansu province atop a Long March II F rocket.
Yang Liwei, 38, a lieutenant colonel of the People's Liberation Army (PLA), becomes the first taikonaut - Chinese astronaut - in space.
The Soviet Union launched the first man into space on April 12, 1961, with cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin. Shortly after, on May 5, Alan Shepard became the first American in space.
Today's mission makes China the third nation to send a man into space.
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