Spaceflight Now | Shenzhou Launch Report | First Chinese space hero safely returns to Earth: "First Chinese space hero safely returns to Earth
BY STEPHEN CLARK
SPACEFLIGHT NOW
Posted: October 15, 2003

Wrapping up a historic day in space, the Shenzhou 5 return capsule parachuted to a soft touchdown today, bringing to an end China's first manned voyage into space and opening the door for a wide variety of future plans in the final frontier.

Touchdown came at 6:23 a.m. local time Thursday (2223 GMT; 6:23 p.m. EDT Wednesday), according to the central Chinese television network CCTV and the Xinhua news organization. Video from the landing site showed the craft's single occupant -- Lt. Colonel Yang Liwei -- waving to a crowd assembled around the capsule as it laid on its side minutes after landing.
Chinese media also reported the landing point was just 4.8 kilometers from the targeted touchdown site in Inner Mongolia.

Yang was carried away from the spacecraft in a seat and looked a bit wobbly and dazed on state television coverage of the event. Official reports from Xinhua say Yang 'was confirmed to remain in good health' after his 21-hour stint in orbit.

The taikonaut soon left the landing site for a two-hour flight to the capital city of Beijing, the location of China's control center, training facility and the home of Yang's family. 'The spaceship operated well. I feel very good and I am proud of my motherland,' he said. "
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