View source for Astronomy:Shenzhou 5

{{Short description|First human spaceflight mission of the Chinese space program}}
{{Infobox spaceflight
| name                  = Shenzhou 5
| image                 = Shenzhou-5 mockup and parachute at NMC.jpg
| image_caption         = Shenzhou-5 spacecraft mockup and parachute displayed at the National Museum of China.
| insignia              =

| mission_type          = 
| operator              = CMSA
| COSPAR_ID             = 2003-045A 
| SATCAT                = 28043
| mission_duration      = 21&nbsp;hours, 22&nbsp;minutes, 45&nbsp;seconds
| orbits_completed      = 14

| spacecraft_type       = [[Engineering:Shenzhou (spacecraft)|Shenzhou]]
| manufacturer          = 
| launch_mass           = {{convert|7790|kg|lb}}
| landing_mass          =

| launch_date           = {{start-date|15 October 2003, 01:00:03|timezone=yes}}&nbsp;UTC 
| launch_rocket         = [[Engineering:Long March 2F|Long March 2F]]
| launch_site           = Jiuquan LA-4/SLS-1

| landing_date          = {{end-date|15 October 2003, 22:22:48|timezone=yes}}&nbsp;UTC 
| landing_site          =

| orbit_epoch           = 
| orbit_reference       = [[Astronomy:Geocentric orbit|Geocentric]]
| orbit_regime          = [[Astronomy:Low Earth orbit|Low Earth]]
| orbit_periapsis       = {{convert|332|km|mi|sp=us}} 
| orbit_apoapsis        = {{convert|336|km|mi|sp=us}} 
| orbit_inclination     = 42.4&nbsp;degrees 
| orbit_period          = 91.2&nbsp;minutes 
| apsis                 = gee

| crew_size             = 1
| crew_members          = Yang Liwei
| crew_callsign         = 
| crew_photo            = Yang Liwei.jpg
| crew_photo_caption    = Yang Liwei

| previous_mission      = Shenzhou 4
| next_mission          = [[Astronomy:Shenzhou 6|Shenzhou 6]]
| programme             = [[Astronomy:Shenzhou program|Shenzhou]] missions
}}

'''Shenzhou 5''' ({{zh|s=神舟五号|p=Shénzhōu Wǔ Hào}}, see [[Engineering:Shenzhou (spacecraft)#Etymology|§ Etymology]])&nbsp;was the first [[Astronomy:Human spaceflight|human spaceflight]] mission of the Chinese space program, launched on 15 October 2003. The Shenzhou spacecraft was launched on a [[Engineering:Long March 2F|Long March 2F]] launch vehicle. There had been four previous flights of uncrewed Shenzhou missions since 1999. China became the third country in the world to have independent human spaceflight capability after the [[Place:Soviet Union|Soviet Union]] (later, {{wipe|Russia}}) and the {{wipe|United States}}.

== Crew ==
{{Spaceflight crew
| terminology = Crew Member
| position1 = Commander
| crew1_up = {{Flagicon|CHN}} Yang Liwei
| flights1_up = Only
}}

== Mission parameters ==
* '''Mass:''' 7,840&nbsp;kg<ref>{{Cite web|title=Shenzhou|url=https://www.britannica.com/technology/Shenzhou|access-date=2021-12-26|website=Encyclopedia Britannica|language=en|archive-date=2021-12-26|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211226064137/https://www.britannica.com/technology/Shenzhou|url-status=live}}</ref>
* '''Perigee:''' 332&nbsp;km<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|date=2003-11-01|title=SPACEWARN Bulletin 600|url=https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/spacewarn/spx600.html|access-date=2021-12-26|website=[[Organization:NASA|NASA]]|archive-date=2021-10-22|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211022201631/https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/spacewarn/spx600.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
* '''Apogee:''' 336&nbsp;km<ref name=":0"/>
* '''Inclination:''' 42.4°<ref name=":0"/>
* '''Period:''' 91.2 minutes<ref name=":0"/>
* '''NSSDC ID:''' 2003-045A<ref name=":0"/>

==Mission highlights==

Shenzhou 5 was launched at 09:00 (UTC +8) from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, a launch base in the [[Earth:Gobi Desert|Gobi Desert]] in Gansu Province, entering orbit 343&nbsp;km above Earth at 09:10 (UTC +8) with [[Astronaut|astronaut]] Yang Liwei (杨利伟), a 38 year-old Lieutenant Colonel in the People's Liberation Army and former fighter pilot.  The launch made China the third country to independently launch a person into space, after the [[Place:Soviet Union|Soviet Union]] and the {{wipe|United States}}. The launch of the Shenzhou was the result of a crewed space program which began in 1992.<ref name="921project">{{cite web |title=谱写航天梦的篇章--党中央推进载人航天工程纪实 |url=http://www.gov.cn/jrzg/2013-07/25/content_2455609.htm |website=中华人民共和国中央人民政府 |accessdate=2021-07-14 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20210714072632/http://www.gov.cn/jrzg/2013-07/25/content_2455609.htm |archivedate=2021-07-14 |date=2013-07-25|language=zh}}</ref>

Neither the launch nor the reentry was televised live, but the time of both launch and reentry had been widely announced beforehand, and news appeared on Chinese Central Television within minutes after both events.

===Orbital spaceflight===
[[File:Shenzhou-5 return capsule at NMC.jpg|thumb|Shenzhou 5 re-entry capsule]]
The Shenzhou spacecraft made 14 orbits and landed 21 hours after launch. It re-entered Earth's atmosphere at 06:04 (UTC +8) on October 16, 2003 (22:04 [[Physics:Coordinated Universal Time|UTC]] 15 Oct 2003), its parachute opened normally and the astronaut said he was feeling fine. The landing happened at 06:28 (UTC +8), just 4.8 kilometers from the planned landing site in [[Place:Inner Mongolia|Inner Mongolia]], according to the government. The orbital module of the spacecraft stayed in orbit; it continued with automated experiments until March 16, 2004, and decayed on May 30.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://satobs.org/seesat/May-2004/0381.html |title=SeeSat-L May-04 : Shenzou OM decayed<!-- Bot generated title --> |access-date=2004-10-17 |archive-date=2016-07-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160704025305/http://www.satobs.org/seesat/May-2004/0381.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

Premier Wen Jiabao congratulated the country's first person in space after his safe return to Earth. Yáng emerged from the capsule about 15 minutes later and waved to members of the recovery team.<ref name="shenzhou5timeline">{{cite web |title=神舟五号载人航天飞行任务时间表 |url=http://www.cmse.gov.cn/fxrw/szwh/jchg_193/200809/t20080917_23556.html |website=中国载人航天 |accessdate=2021-07-12 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20210712072117/http://www.cmse.gov.cn/fxrw/szwh/jchg_193/200809/t20080917_23556.html |archivedate=2021-07-12 |date=2008-09-17 | language=zh}}</ref>

The control center in Beijing later declared China's first crewed spacecraft mission to be successful after Yang Liwei emerged from his capsule.<ref name="shenzhou5timeline"/>

===Yang's experience in space===
During the flight Yang wore diapers. When questioned about his experience aboard Shenzhou 5 he stated "Better not to piss in diaper...Baby doesn't like it, neither does an adult.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/200607/20/eng20060720_284788.html|title =Better not to piss in diaper in space, says China's first spaceman|publisher= Xinhua|date=July 29, 2006|access-date=October 5, 2008 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20200125104501/http://en.people.cn/200607/20/eng20060720_284788.html |archive-date= January 25, 2020}}</ref>"

In addition, Yang reported abnormal vibrations that appeared 120 seconds after launch ([[Engineering:Pogo oscillation|pogo oscillation]]), which he described as "very uncomfortable."<ref name="CZ-2F">{{cite web|url=http://www.chinanews.com.cn/gn/news/2008/07-19/1317666.shtml|title="神七"运载火箭完成总装和出厂测试 今将出征|publisher=中国新闻网|date=2008-07-19|access-date=2008-07-19|archive-date=2008-08-04|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080804043438/http://www.chinanews.com.cn/gn/news/2008/07-19/1317666.shtml|url-status=live}}</ref> As a consequence, corrective measures were taken to the design of the following [[Engineering:Long March 2F|CZ-2F]] carrier rocket for the [[Astronomy:Shenzhou 6|Shenzhou 6]] flight.<ref name="CZ-2F"/>

== Politics ==
The launch was widely heralded in the official Chinese state media with newspapers devoting far more space to the launch than any recent event. While the Chinese media portrayed the launch as a triumph for Chinese science and technology and a milestone for Chinese nationalism,{{citation needed|date=May 2012}} it has also been pointed out in both Chinese and Western media that Yang Liwei showed the flag of the {{wipe|United Nations}} in addition to the flag of the People's Republic of China.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.people.com.cn/GB/keji/1056/2136544.html|title=航天员杨利伟在飞船中展示中国国旗和联合国旗|publisher=People's Daily|date=2003-10-16|access-date=2008-10-02|archive-date=2012-03-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120324102038/http://www.people.com.cn/GB/keji/1056/2136544.html|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.spacedaily.com/reports/Chinese_Astronauts_Begin_Training_For_Spacewalk_999.html|title=Chinese Astronauts Begin Training For Spacewalk|publisher=SpaceDaily|date=2007-07-19|access-date=2008-10-02|archive-date=2019-09-12|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190912232318/http://www.spacedaily.com/reports/Chinese_Astronauts_Begin_Training_For_Spacewalk_999.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The state media also reported that crop seeds from Taiwan were brought aboard the spacecraft.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.people.com.cn/GB/keji/1056/2144579.html|title="神舟"五号载人飞船成功搭载台湾农作物种子|publisher=People's Daily|date=2003-10-21|access-date=2008-10-02|archive-date=2012-03-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120324102104/http://www.people.com.cn/GB/keji/1056/2144579.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> Both the Chief Executives of [[Place:Hong Kong|Hong Kong]] and [[Place:Macau|Macau]] sent letters congratulating all the people involved in the mission and also the Central Government.<ref>{{cite web|title=HK chief executive's congratulation on Shenzhou-5 successful launch|url=http://en.people.cn/200310/16/eng20031016_126168.shtml|date=14 September 2018|access-date=26 September 2022|archive-date=26 September 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220926153148/http://en.people.cn/200310/16/eng20031016_126168.shtml|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Macao Chief Executive congratulates motherland on breakthrough in space technology|url=http://en.people.cn/200310/16/eng20031016_126168.shtml|date=14 September 2018|access-date=26 September 2022|archive-date=26 September 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220926153148/http://en.people.cn/200310/16/eng20031016_126168.shtml|url-status=live}}</ref>

General Secretary and President Hu Jintao, in an official celebration at the Great Hall of the People, hailed China's success in launching its first crewed spacecraft into orbit, describing it as "an honor for our great motherland, an indicator for the initial victory of the country's first crewed space flight and for an historic step taken by the Chinese people in their endeavor to surmount the peak of the world's science and technology."<ref name="Hu">{{cite web|url=http://news.sina.com.cn/c/2003-11-08/10051080035s.shtml|title=庆祝我国首次载人航天飞行圆满成功|publisher=sina.com|date=2003-11-08|access-date=2008-10-02|archive-date=2012-02-13|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120213004150/http://news.sina.com.cn/c/2003-11-08/10051080035s.shtml|url-status=live}}</ref>

Hu added, "The Party and the people will never forget those who have set up this outstanding merit in the space industry for the motherland, the people and the nation." He also expressed congratulations and respect to specialists and people who have contributed to China's space mission development on behalf of the CPC Central Committee, the State Council and the Central Military Commission (CMC).<ref name="Hu"/>

The launch was met with praise from around the world. Prime Minister of Japan Junichiro Koizumi called the launch "a great feat".<ref>{{Cite web|date=2003-10-16|title=World Leaders Congratulate China's Space Mission Success|url=http://english.china.org.cn/english/international/77497.htm|access-date=2021-12-26|website=Xinhua News Agency|archive-date=2020-11-23|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201123015518/http://english.china.org.cn/english/international/77497.htm|url-status=live}}</ref>  United States President George W. Bush congratulated Chinese President Hu and wished China continued success.<ref name="fas.org">{{cite report|url=https://fas.org/sgp/crs/space/RS21641.pdf|title=China's Space Program: An Overview|first=Marcia S.|last=Smith|date=October 18, 2005|publisher=Federation of American Scientists|access-date=December 9, 2022|archive-date=November 14, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201114000835/https://fas.org/sgp/crs/space/RS21641.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> A U.S. State Department spokesman said that the United States wished to "applaud China's success in becoming only the third country to launch people into space".<ref>{{Cite web|last=Boucher|first=Richard|date=2003-10-15|title=Daily Press Briefing for October 15 — Transcript|url=https://2001-2009.state.gov/r/pa/prs/dpb/2003/25203.htm|access-date=2021-12-26|website=United States Department of State—Office of Electronic Information, Bureau of Public Affairs|language=en|archive-date=2020-11-23|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201123015521/https://2001-2009.state.gov/r/pa/prs/dpb/2003/25203.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> NASA Administrator Sean O'Keefe called Shenzhou 5 an "important achievement in human exploration" and wished China "a continued safe human space flight program."<ref name="fas.org" />

The spacecraft has since featured prominently in festivities and celebrations not only in China but also in foreign countries, such as official North Korean commemorative stamps showing the first Chinese crewed spacecraft alongside the DPRK's first satellite [[Engineering:Kwangmyŏngsŏng-1|Kwangmyŏngsŏng-1]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.qlstamp.com/news/0008/2004616103040.htm|title=朝鲜6月18日发行胡锦涛、温家宝等中国领导人的邮票|publisher=其乐邮币卡网|date=2004-06-16|access-date=September 19, 2008|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080515212718/http://www.qlstamp.com/news/0008/2004616103040.htm|archive-date=May 15, 2008}}</ref>

== Gallery ==
<gallery>
File:Shenzhou-5 return capsule and space suit at NMC 02.jpg|Shenzhou-5 return capsule and space suit displayed at the National Museum of China.
File:Shenzhou-5 return capsule and space suit at NMC 01.jpg|Shenzhou-5 space suit worn by Yang Liwei displayed at the National Museum of China.
File:Shenzhou-5 space suit at NMC.jpg|Shenzhou-5 space suit worn by Yang Liwei displayed at the National Museum of China.
File:Shenzhou 5 - Chinese Spacesuit on Display.jpg|The space suit worn by Shenzhou 5 crew member Yang Liwei on display
File:Shenzhou5-1.JPG|Mock-up of the Shenzhou 5 spacecraft
File:Shenzhou spacecraft diagram by Bo.png|Early models of the Shenzhou spacecraft (I-VI) structure, the forward orbital module with dual solar panels.
</gallery>

== See also ==
* Chinese space program
* Tiangong program
* Shenzhou spacecraft
* Long March rocket
* Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center
{{Clear}}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
* [http://space.com/missionlaunches/shenzhou5_launch_031014.html http://space.com/missionlaunches/]
* https://web.archive.org/web/20030921102715/http://www.astronautix.com/articles/couzhou5.htm
* [http://www.spacefacts.de/mission/english/shenzhou-5.htm Spacefacts data about Shenzhou 5]

{{Chinese space program}}
{{Public sector space agencies}}

[[Category:Human spaceflights|Shenzhou 05]]

{{Sourceattribution|Shenzhou 5}}