Shenzhou 5

 2003-045A

---

\imps{2.5}{images/03045A}

The first Chinese astronaut successfully completed his mission in October 2003. Shenzhou 5 was launched by Chang Zheng 2F on Oct 15. The second stage of the CZ-2F entered a 200 x 350 km x 42.4 deg orbit together with SZ-5 and its 38-year-old pilot Yang Liwei. SZ-5 then separated from the second stage. The spacecraft consists of three modules: the descent module, the propulsion module and the orbital module. At the end of the mission, at 2135 UTC the orbital module separated to remain in orbit, and the propulsion module fired at around 2138 UTC to lower perigee into the atmosphere. The propulsion module then separated at about 2158 UTC and burnt up on reentry, leaving the descent module with its heat shield exposed to the atmosphere. SZ-5 landed at 2223 UTC in China's Nei Monggol Zizhiqu (Inner Mongolia) province, at Dorbod Xi near Siziwang 100 km N of Hohhot.

Note: As usual in Chinese culture, Yang is the astronaut's family name ("Lt-Col. Yang") in contrast to English in which the family name is placed after the personal name. Yang is the first individual to fly in space who was a Chinese citizen at the time of launch. Wang Gunjin (Taylor Wang) was born in Shanghai but was a US citizen at the time of his Shuttle flight. Two other US astronauts were born in China: Shannon Wells Lucid (Shanghai) and William Anders (Hong Kong). Yang was born near Suizhong in Liaoning province.

SZ-5 was 9.2m long 2.5m dia and mass of 7790 kg (or 7840 kg according to other sources).

SZ-5
Date	Time	Event	Orbit
2003 Oct 15	0100:03	Launch by CZ-2F	JQ
		T+2:00 LES sep
		T+2:16 SRM burnout, sep
		T+2:38 St 1 MECO
		T+2:39 St 1 sep, St 2 burn
		T+3:20 Fairing sep
		T+7:41 St 2 MECO
	0110	T+9:43 Stage 2 VECO
	0110	T+9:43 Stage 2 sep	89.44 190 x 302 x 42.41
	0132	Solar panels deploy
	0754	Orbit circularization
	1003		91.22 331 x 337 x 42.42
	2136	OM sep over SW Africa	331 x 334 x 42.43
	2138	Deorbit over 24S 7E	-100? x 333 x 42.4
	2159	SM sep at 145 km
	2204	Reentry
	2211	Parachutes out
	2214	Jettison heat shield
	2223	Landed
	2233	Recovery teams reach module