Yang returns a nation's hero ( 2003-10-17 08:41) (China Daily)
After a landmark 21-hour and 23-minute expedition that took him around the
world 14 times, China's first astronaut Yang Liwei returned to the earth
yesterday morning.
By doing so, he fulfilled his mission and realized a centuries-old dream
cherished by all of China.
"Yang, confirmed to be in very good condition, walked out of the cabin by
himself," said Li Jinai, chief commander of Shenzhou-V Project, at the Beijing
Aerospace Control Centre. "At the same time, Shenzhou-V, China's self-made
spacecraft, returned smoothly without any damage to the re-entry module."
The Shenzhou-V manned spacecraft touched down almost precisely at the primary
landing site in North China's Inner Mongolia at 6:23 am, Li said.
Carrying the 38-year old astronaut Yang, also a lieutenant colonel, the
Shenzhou-V lifted off on Wednesday at 9 am at Gansu Province's Jiuquan Satellite
Launch Centre.
As the 241st human being to visit outer space, Yang travelled in the orbit
more than 600,000 kilometres, researchers at the control centre said. They were
in charge of the telemetry, tracking and control of the craft.
In Inner Mongolia, more than 600 people gathered at the landing site,
including local residents, space mission workers, police officers and
journalists, Xinhua reported.
Joyous onlookers carried Yang in a chair to a medical vehicle 10 metres away
to receive a medical checkup. Three minutes later he got out of the cabin and
was presented flowers and ribbons of congratulation in the golden sunlight. Yang
smiled and waved to his colleagues and the public.
Recovery personnel indicated Yang's condition was good, and he suffered no
ill effects from 21 hours in space.
"The spacecraft operates well. I feel very good and I am proud of my
motherland," the cool and calm astronaut said before boarding a plane and
heading to Beijing.
Two hours later, Yang reached the control centre.
Thousands of people, some of them centre staff, began cheering and dancing
along the two sides of the road as Yang's special bus passed.
Sitting beside a window, Yang waved to the cheering throng as it ran after
the bus, yelling happily.
Yang received further medical exams in Beijing.
Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Zhang Qiyue said yesterday the flight was "of
great significance in history. The success was exciting not only for all
Chinese, but for people around the world."
Zhang said the Shenzhou-V carried the flags of the United Nations and China,
showing China's willingness to closely co-operate with the United Nations and to
co-operate with other nations in the peaceful utilization of space."
She said China is grateful for the congratulations of leaders of other
countries.
