Five momerable moments in China's space probe

Updated: 2016-04-23 10:01

(Xinhua)

Photo taken on Oct. 16, 2003 shows astronaut Yang Liwei getting out of the re-entry capsule of China's Shenzhou-5 spacecraft following its successful landing in North China's Inner Mongolia autonomous region.[Photo/Xinhua]

First manned spacecraft

China became the third country ever to launch a human into space in 2003. Yang Liwei, first Chinese astronaut in space, returned safely to Earth aboard Shenzhou 5 spacecraft on Octorber 16 after 21 hours in orbit.

Two years later, a second flight in 2005 put two other astronauts Fei Junlong and Nie Haisheng on a five-day journey in space.