Shenzhou 5 (simplified Chinese: 神舟五号; traditional Chinese: 神舟五號; pinyin: shénzhōu wǔ hào) — was the first human spaceflight mission of the People's Republic of China (PRC), launched on October 15, 2003. The Shenzhou spacecraft was launched on a Long March 2F launch vehicle. There had been four previous flights of unmanned Shenzhou missions since 1999. China became the third country in the world to have independent human spaceflight capability after the Soviet Union (later, Russia) and the United States.

Crew[link]

Yang Liwei became the first man sent into space by the Chinese space program.

Mission parameters[link]

• Mass: 7,790 kg
• Perigee: 332 km
• Apogee: 336 km
• Inclination: 42.4°
• Period: 91.2 minutes
• NSSDC ID: 2003-045A

Politics[link]

Shenzhou 5 re-entry capsule in demonstration

The space suit worn by Shenzhou 5 crew member Yang Liwei on display.

The launch was widely heralded in the official Chinese state media with newspapers devoting far more space to the launch than any recent event. While the Chinese media portrayed the launch as a triumph for Chinese science and technology and a milestone for Chinese nationalism^{[citation needed]}, it has also been pointed out in both Chinese and Western media that Yang Liwei showed the flag of the United Nations in addition to the flag of the People's Republic of China.^[1][2] The state media also reported that crop seeds from Taiwan were brought aboard the spacecraft.^[3]

General Secretary and President Hu Jintao, in an official celebration at the Great Hall of the People, hailed China's success in launching its first manned spacecraft into orbit, describing it as "an honor for our great motherland, an indicator for the initial victory of the country's first manned space flight and for an historic step taken by the Chinese people in their endeavor to surmount the peak of the world's science and technology."^[4]

Hu added, "the Party and the people will never forget those who have set up this outstanding merit in the space industry for the motherland, the people and the nation." He also expressed congratulations and respect to specialists and people who have contributed to China's space mission development on behalf of the CPC Central Committee, the State Council and the Central Military Commission (CMC).^[4]

The launch was met with praise from around the world. For example, Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi of Japan called the launch "a great feat".^[5] United States President George W. Bush congratulated Chinese President Hu and wished China continued success.^[6] U.S. State Department spokesman said that the United States wished to "applaud China's success in becoming only the third country to launch people into space".^[5] NASA Administrator Sean O'Keefe called Shenzhou 5 an "important achievement in human exploration" and wished China "a continued safe human space flight program."^[6]

The spacecraft has since featured prominently in festivities and celebrations not only in China but also in foreign countries, such as official North Korean commemorative stamps showing the first Chinese manned spacecraft alongside the DPRK's first satellite Kwangmyŏngsŏng-1.^[7]

See also[link]

• Chinese space program
• Shenzhou spacecraft
• Long March rocket

References[link]

External links[link]

• http://space.com/missionlaunches/
• http://www.astronautix.com/articles/couzhou5.htm
• Spacefacts data about Shenzhou 5

This article contains Chinese text. Without proper rendering support, you may see question marks, boxes, or other symbols instead of Chinese characters.

Zhai Zhigang
CNSA Astronaut
Nationality	Chinese
Status	Active
Born	(1966-10-10) October 10, 1966 (age 45) Longjiang County, Qiqihar
Other occupation	Fighter pilot
Rank	Lieutenant Colonel, PLAAF
Time in space	2d 20h 18m
Selection	Chinese Group 1
Total EVAs	1
Total EVA time	22 minutes
Missions	Shenzhou 7

Zhai Zhigang (simplified Chinese: 翟志刚; traditional Chinese: 翟志剛; pinyin: Zhái Zhìgāng; born October 10, 1966) is an officer in the People's Liberation Army Air Force and a CNSA astronaut. During the Shenzhou 7 mission in 2008, he became the first Chinese citizen to carry out a spacewalk.^[1]

Early career[link]

Zhai was born in Longjiang County, Qiqihar, Heilongjiang province. He enrolled at the People's Liberation Army Air Force Aviation Institute and studied to be a fighter pilot and then as a squadron leader. Zhai became a Lieutenant Colonel and pilot trainer in the PLAAF after logging 1000 hours of flying time.^[2]

CNSA career[link]

In 1996, Zhai was selected to trial for the astronaut program and was selected to be the first group of fourteen in 1998. He was one of three members of the final group to train for the Shenzhou 5 (神舟五号) flight. Yang Liwei was picked for the flight, with Zhai Zhigang ranked second ahead of Nie Haisheng. Zhai was one of the six astronauts in the final training for Shenzhou 6 (神舟六号). The Ta Kung Pao newspaper had reported that Zhai Zhigang and Nie Haisheng were the leading pair, after having been in the final group of three for Shenzhou 5. However, Zhai had been paired with Wu Jie during training. Fei Junlong and Nie Haisheng flew the flight.

Zhai, along with Liu Boming and Jing Haipeng was selected for prime crew on Shenzhou 7 (神舟七号), with Zhai as commander, on 17 September 2008. On 25 September 2008, at 21:10 CST, they launched into space as the first three-man crew for China, China's third human spaceflight mission.^[3][4] On 27 September 2008, Zhai became the first Chinese astronaut to spacewalk, completely outside the craft. Fellow crew member Liu Boming stood by at the airlock and could be seen straddling the portal. Zhai successfully completed his spacewalk at 18:25 CST.^[5] Zhai wore the Chinese developed Feitian space suit (飞天), while Liu wore the Russian derived Orlan-M space suit, translated in Chinese as Haiying or "Sea Eagle" (海鹰).

Personal life[link]

Zhai's favourite pastimes are calligraphy, dancing and gadgets. He is married to Zhang Shujing and has one son.

See also[link]

• List of Chinese astronauts

References[link]

External links[link]

• "We want to fly higher for China: stories of Zhai Zhigang". PLA Daily. 2003-10-22. http://english.pladaily.com.cn/english/pladaily/2003/10/22/20031022001021_MilitaryNews.html. 
• Zhai Zhigang at the Encyclopedia Astronautica. Accessed 22 July 2005.
• Spacefacts biography of Zhai Zhigang
• "China Prepares for Shenzhou VI Space Flight 13 October - Agency". China News Service. 24 September 2005. http://www.rednova.com/news/space/250050/china_prepares_for_shenzhou_vi_space_flight_13_october_/.