# Shenzhou 5

> first human spaceflight mission of the Chinese space program

**Wikidata**: [Q378417](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q378417)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shenzhou_5)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/shenzhou-5

## Summary
Shenzhou 5 was the first human spaceflight mission of the Chinese space program, launched on October 15, 2003. It carried astronaut Yang Liwei into low Earth orbit, marking China as the third country to independently send humans into space. The mission lasted approximately 21 hours and completed 14 orbits before landing safely in Inner Mongolia.

## Key Facts
- Launched on October 15, 2003, at 01:00 UTC from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center
- Carried astronaut Yang Liwei as the sole crew member
- Completed 14 orbits around Earth during the 21-hour mission
- Landed on October 15, 2003, at 22:22:48 UTC in Inner Mongolia
- Used the Long March 2F launch vehicle
- Part of China's Manned Space Program
- China became the third country to independently send humans to space
- Mission duration: approximately 21 hours
- Spacecraft orbited at low Earth orbit altitude

## FAQs
### Q: Who was the first Chinese astronaut to fly in space?
A: Yang Liwei was the first Chinese astronaut to fly in space aboard Shenzhou 5 on October 15, 2003. He orbited Earth 14 times during the approximately 21-hour mission.

### Q: When did China first send humans to space?
A: China first sent humans to space on October 15, 2003, with the launch of Shenzhou 5 carrying astronaut Yang Liwei. This made China the third country to independently achieve human spaceflight capability.

### Q: How long did the Shenzhou 5 mission last?
A: The Shenzhou 5 mission lasted approximately 21 hours, from launch at 01:00 UTC on October 15, 2003, to landing at 22:22:48 UTC the same day.

## Why It Matters
Shenzhou 5 represents a historic milestone in space exploration as China's first human spaceflight mission, establishing the country as the third nation capable of independently sending astronauts to space. This achievement demonstrated China's growing technological capabilities and marked its emergence as a major spacefaring nation. The successful mission validated China's space program development over decades and opened the door for future crewed missions, space station development, and lunar exploration ambitions. By achieving human spaceflight independently, China joined an elite group of nations with this capability, significantly impacting the global space landscape and inspiring national pride while advancing scientific and technological progress.

## Notable For
- First human spaceflight mission of the Chinese space program
- Made China the third country to independently send humans to space
- Carried Yang Liwei, China's first astronaut in space
- Completed 14 orbits around Earth in a single day
- Launched using China's indigenous Long March 2F rocket
- Landed safely in Inner Mongolia after 21-hour mission

## Body
### Mission Overview
Shenzhou 5 was launched on October 15, 2003, at 01:00 UTC from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in the Gobi Desert. The mission carried a single astronaut, Yang Liwei, who became the first Chinese national to travel to space. The spacecraft used the Long March 2F launch vehicle, which is specifically designed for crewed missions.

### Technical Specifications
The spacecraft orbited Earth at low Earth orbit altitude, completing 14 full revolutions during the mission. The total flight duration was approximately 21 hours, with the spacecraft landing back on Earth at 22:22:48 UTC on the same day in Inner Mongolia. The landing site coordinates were 42.243319444444445° N, 111.49333888888889° E.

### Crew and Operations
Yang Liwei, a fighter pilot selected from the Chinese astronaut corps, served as the sole crew member for this historic mission. During the flight, he conducted various observations and maintained communication with ground control. The mission demonstrated China's capability to safely launch, operate, and recover crewed spacecraft.

### Program Context
Shenzhou 5 was part of China's broader Manned Space Program and followed four previous uncrewed Shenzhou missions that tested the spacecraft systems. The success of this mission paved the way for subsequent crewed flights, including Shenzhou 6 in 2005, and established the foundation for China's long-term space exploration goals.

## Schema Markup
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## References

1. Jonathan's Space Report
2. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013