First manned spacecraftOn October 15, 2003, China's first manned spacecraft, Shenzhou V, was successfully launched into space. It returned to Earth on October 16. China became the third country in the world to have the independent technology of launching manned spacecraft. Yang Liwei, the astronaut on board, became China's first space hero.
First Arctic research stationOn July 28, 2004, the Chinese Arctic Yellow River Station was established in Ny-Alesund, Spitsbergen Archipelago of Norway. The station, a two-story building of about 500 square meters, can support 20-25 persons for scientific research and includes an office, lobby, dormitory, storage space and labs.
SARS vaccineOn December 5, 2004, the Ministry of Science and Technology, along with the Ministry of Health and the State Food and Drug Administration, announced that clinical results showed the Chinese SARS vaccine was safe and effective.
Reaching Dome AIn 2005, a 13-member team reached Dome A for the first time during China's 21st Antarctic Expedition. Dome A is the highest dome on the East Antarctic Ice Sheet.
Large aircraft programOn February 9, 2006, the State Council released both medium and long term Science and Technology Development Projects. The large aircraft program was among the 16 projects "fending to make breakthrough in 15 years." On February 26, 2007, the large aircraft program was approved in principle at the executive meeting of the State Council.
Maiden flight of Fierce DragonOn April 28, 2006, FC-1 Fierce Dragon, a light-weight multipurpose fighter, completed its maiden flight.
Qinghai-Tibet RailwayOn July 1, 2006, the 1,956-km Qinghai-Tibet Railway started overall operation. About 960 kilometers of the railway are located 4,000 meters above sea level. The highest point is 5,072 meters, at least 200 meters higher than the Peruvian railway in the Andes, formerly the world's highest track.
Beidou navigation satelliteOn April 14, 2007, China successfully launched its first navigation satellite Beidou. On April 15, 2009, China launched its second Beidou satellite by the Long March 3C carrier rocket at the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in Sichuan Province.
Lunar explorationOn October 24, 2007, Chang'e 1, an un-manned lunar orbiter, was successfully launched at Xichang Satellite Launch Center. It sent back lunar photos and relative statistics.
First regional jetOn December 21, 2007, China's first home-grown regional jet, the ARJ21-700, rolled off the production line at the Shanghai Aircraft Manufacturing Factory in Shanghai.
First high speed trainOn December 22, 2007, China's first home-grown 300km/h CRH train rolled off the production line.
First spacewalkOn September 25, 2008, China launched Shenzhou VII spacecraft. Two days later, mission commander Zhai Zhigang left the Shenzhou VII spacecraft at 4:43 pm Beijing time (0843 GMT) to float in orbit for about 20 minutes, making China the third country to complete a space walk after the United States and the former Soviet Union.
3G eraOn January 7, 2009, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology issued 3G licenses to China Mobile (TD-SCDMA), China Unicom (WCDMA) and China Telecom (CDMA2000), which formally marked China's entrance into the 3G era.
Finest optical telescopeOn June 4, 2009, China officially unveiled the Large Sky Area Multi-Object Fiber Spectroscopic Telescope (LAMOST), the biggest telescope of its kind in the world.