Major Events of China’s Space Program
2010-12-27XinhuaNewsAgency
Major Events of China’s Space Program
October 8, 1956 An institute on missile and rocket research is set up, the frst of the country.
July 19, 1964 A biological rocket carrying albino rats is launched successfully.
April 1, 1968 An institute for spaceflight-oriented medical engineering is set up.
April 24, 1970 The Dong Fang Hong 1 scientifc experimental satellite lifts off aboard a Long March rocket.
November 26, 1975 The frst recoverable satellite of the country is launched.
September 7, 1988 A meteorological satellite Feng Yun 1-A is launched.
April 7, 1990 The Long March CZ 3 sends AsiaSat 1 communication satellite into orbit, the start of the country’s commercial launch service.
July 16, 1990 The Long March CZ 2-E is launched, a cluster carrier rocket.
November 20, 1999 The unmanned Shenzhou 1 spacecraft is launched.
January 10, 2001 The unmanned Shenzhou 2 spacecraft is launched.
March 25, 2002 The unmanned Shenzhou 3 spacecraft is launched.
December 30, 2002 The unmanned Shenzhou 4 spacecraft is launched.
October 15, 2003 The Shenzhou 5 blasts off into space, sending the country’s first astronaut Yang Liwei into orbit.
October 12, 2005 The Shenzhou 6 is launched, sending two astronauts, Fei Junlong and Nie Haisheng, into space.
October 24, 2007 The first unmanned lunar orbiter of the country, Chang’e 1, is launched.
September 25, 2008 The Shenzhou 7 blasts off, sending Zhai Zhigang, Liu Boming and Jing Haipeng into space. Zhai completes the country’s frst space walking on September 27, 2008.
(Source: Xinhua News Agency)
