When Did China First Send Humans to Space?

Learn about China's first human spaceflight mission with astronaut Yang Liwei aboard Shenzhou 5 on October 15, 2003.

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China first ventured into space on October 15, 2003, with astronaut Yang Liwei aboard the Shenzhou 5 spacecraft. This mission marked China’s entry into the ranks of spacefaring nations capable of human spaceflight, following the United States and Russia.

FAQs & Answers

  1. Who was the first Chinese astronaut to go to space? Yang Liwei was the first Chinese astronaut, or taikonaut, to go to space aboard the Shenzhou 5 mission in 2003.
  2. What was the date of China's first manned space mission? China's first manned space mission launched on October 15, 2003.
  3. What is Shenzhou 5? Shenzhou 5 was the spacecraft that carried China’s first astronaut, Yang Liwei, marking China's entry into manned spaceflight.
  4. Which countries have sent humans to space before China? Before China, the United States and Russia were the only countries to have successfully sent humans to space.

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