Orbital module of Shenzhou V keeps flying smoothly ( 2004-01-22 09:15) (Xinhua)
On the stroke of midnight to mark the start of the Chinese Lunar New Year
tolling, the orbital module of the Shenzhou V spacecraft which completed China's
first manned space flight three months ago, accomplished the fifth readjustment
procedure to maintain its orbit.
Signals received in the Beijing Aerospace Command and Control Center
indicated that the orbital module of Shenzhou V was operating smoothly.
The center closely monitored the flight of the module, which has been flying
in orbit for three months.
On Oct. 15, 2003, Yang Liwei, an 38-year-old astronaut, enteredspace aboard
the Shenzhou V spacecraft and the return module landed safely as planned in
north China the next day, after orbiting Earth 14 times on the 21-hour mission.
The successful mission made China the third country after Russia and the United
States to put a person into space.
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