China's first piloted spacecraft has entered the outer space,
and Lieutenant Colonel Yang Liwei is now the first Chinese
astronaut in space in the world's 241st manned space mission. At
around 9:10, Shenzhou V moved into?preset orbit, indicating
success of China's endeavor to?get?a piloted space
vehicle of its own into?orbit.
Chinese President Hu Jintao watched the?launch
process?from mission-control?at the?Jiuquan
Satellite Launch Center.
Yang Liwei reported back to earth at 9:34 a.m. (Beijing time)
that the spacecraft Shenzhou V?was operating normally in orbit
and?that he?felt fine, sources at the mission-control
center of the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center said.
(Xinhua News Agency October 15, 2003)
