Backgrounder: Development of China´s manned space flights

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These four successful unmanned space flights paved the way for the launch of Shenzhou 5 making China's dream of a manned space flight finally come true.

Launch of Shenzhou 5

 
On October 12th, 2005, China's second manned spacecraft successfully took off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center. Carrying two astronauts on a 5-day mission, the launch marked a major milestone for China's space program.

Shenzhou-5 launched astronaut Yang Liwei on a 21-hour mission in 2003. During the mission, Yang was strapped in his chair. The lonely astronaut never left his seat in the re-entry module or took off his space suit.