Human Spaceflights

International Flight No. 236

Shenzhou-5

People's Republic of China

China
Patch Shenzhou-5

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Launch, orbit and landing data

Launch date:  15.10.2003
Launch time:  01:00:03.497 UTC
Launch site:  Jiuquan Satellite Launching Center
Launch pad:  1
Altitude:  331 - 338 km
Inclination:  42.408°
Landing date:  15.10.2003
Landing time:  22:22:48 UTC
Landing site:  42°14'36" N, 111°29'36" E

walkout photo

Liwei Yang

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alternative photo

Crew

No.   Surname Given names Position Flight No. Duration Orbits
1  Yang  Liwei  Astronaut 1 21h 22m 45s  14 

Crew seating arrangement

Launch
1  Yang
Shenzhou
Landing
1  Yang

1st Backup Crew

No.   Surname Given names Position
1  Zhai  Zhigang  Astronaut

2nd Backup Crew

No.   Surname Given names Position
1  Nie  Haisheng  Astronaut
Crew Shenzhou-5 (prime and backup)

Hardware

Launch vehicle:  Long March 2F (Chang Zheng CZ-2F No. Y5)
Spacecraft:  Shenzhou V

Flight

Launch from Jiuquan Satellite Launching Center and landing on the grasslands of the Gobi Desert, 157 km north of Hohhot in central Inner Mongolia (in Dorbod Xi).

Shenzhou-5 was the first Chinese manned spaceflight. China became the third country in the world to have independent human spaceflight capability after the Soviet Union (later Russia) and the United States. President Hu Jintao attended the launch.

Yang's first message from space was, that "everything goes smoothly" and that he felt good. During the mission he had two resting times of each three hours. The Shenzhou is based on the three seat Russian Soyuz capsule, but with extensive modifications.

Photos

Shenzhou-5 rollout Shenzhou-5 launch
Shenzhou -5 recovery Shenzhou -5 recovery

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Last update on December 26, 2023.

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