Yáng Lìwěi

Astronaut
Nationality	Chinese
Born	June 21, 1965 Suizhong, Liaoning Province
Occupation1	Fighter pilot
Rank	Colonel, PLAAF
Space time	21 hours, 22 minutes, 45 seconds
Selection	Chinese Group 1
Missions	Shenzhou 5
Mission insignia
1 previous or current.

This is a Chinese name; the family name is Yang.

Yáng Lìwěi (Simplified Chinese: 杨利伟; Traditional Chinese: 楊利偉) (born June 21, 1965) is an astronaut of the People's Republic of China. He was the first man sent into space by the space program of China, and his mission, Shenzhou 5, made the PRC the third country to independently send people into space. Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Astronaut Bruce McCandless II using a manned maneuvering unit outside the U.S. Space Shuttle Challenger in 1984. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_Peoples_Republic_of_China. ... is the 172nd day of the year (173rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1965 (MCMLXV) was a common year starting on Friday (the link is to a full 1965 calendar). ... Suizhong (Chinese: 绥中; Hanyu Pinyin: ) is a county in Huludao City, Liaoning Province in the Peoples Republic of China. ... Liaoning (Simplified Chinese: 辽宁; Traditional Chinese: 遼寧; pinyin: Liáoníng) is a northeastern province of the Peoples Republic of China. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with aerial warfare. ... This article or section needs copy editing for grammar, style, cohesion, tone and/or spelling. ... Flag of the Peoples Liberation Army Air Force The Peoples Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) (Simplified Chinese: ; Traditional Chinese: ; Pinyin: ) is the aviation branch of the Peoples Liberation Army, the military of the Peoples Republic of China. ... 1958 1959 1960 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1976 1978 1979 1980 1982 1984 1985 1987 1990 1992 1994 1995 1996 1997 2000 2003 2004 1958 June 25 - Man In Space Soonest - USA The first group of American astronaut candidates were selected... Shenzhou 5 (神舟五号) was the first manned space mission launched by the Peoples Republic of China (PRC) on October 15, 2003. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (620x769, 996 KB)Insignia for the Peoples Republic of Chinas Shenzhou spacecraft program. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... A Chinese surname, family name (Chinese: ; pinyin: ) or clan name (氏; pinyin: shì), is one of the hundreds or thousands of family names that have been historically used by Han Chinese and Sinicized Chinese ethnic groups in mainland China, Taiwan, and among overseas Chinese communities. ... Simplified Chinese character (Simplified Chinese: or ; Traditional Chinese: or ; pinyin: or ) is one of two standard sets of Chinese characters of printed contemporary Chinese written language, simplified from traditional Chinese by the Peoples Republic of China in an attempt to promote literacy. ... Traditional Chinese characters refers to one of two standard sets of printed Chinese characters. ... is the 172nd day of the year (173rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1965 (MCMLXV) was a common year starting on Friday (the link is to a full 1965 calendar). ... Astronaut Bruce McCandless II using a manned maneuvering unit outside the U.S. Space Shuttle Challenger in 1984. ... The space program of the Peoples Republic of China (PRC) began in 1968 and was an outgrowth of PRCs attempt to develop an indigenous nuclear deterrent and delivery system after the Sino-Soviet split in 1960. ... Shenzhou 5 (神舟五号) was the first manned space mission launched by the Peoples Republic of China (PRC) on October 15, 2003. ...

Background

He was born in Suizhong County of Huludao City in the Liaoning Province, an industrial area in Northeast China. Yang's mother was a teacher, his father an accountant at a state agricultural firm. Yang Liwei's wife is also a People's Liberation Army (PLA) officer, with whom he has a son. Suizhong (Chinese: 绥中; Hanyu Pinyin: ) is a county in Huludao City, Liaoning Province in the Peoples Republic of China. ... Huludao (Simplified Chinese: 葫芦岛; Traditional Chinese: 葫蘆島; Hanyu Pinyin: ) is a prefecture-level city in southwestern Liaoning Province, China. ... Liaoning (Simplified Chinese: 辽宁; Traditional Chinese: 遼寧; pinyin: Liáoníng) is a northeastern province of the Peoples Republic of China. ... Approximate extent Northeast China (Simplified Chinese: 东北; Traditional Chinese: 東北; pinyin: Dōngběi; literally east-north), historically known as Manchuria, is the name of a region (ca. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ...

Growing up, his grades were average but he excelled in the sciences. He loved to swim and skate and shone in track and field events. Part of a scientific laboratory at the University of Cologne. ...

He joined the PLA when he was 18 years old and worked his way from Lieutenant Colonel to the rank of Colonel (after returning from space). He attended No. 8 Aviation College of the PLA Air Force in 1987 and graduated with a Bachelor's degree. In the PLAAF, he logged 1350 hours of flight time as a fighter pilot before he went to space training. In the U.S. Army, Air Force and Marine Corps, a lieutenant colonel is a commissioned officer superior to a major and inferior to a colonel. ... This article or section needs copy editing for grammar, style, cohesion, tone and/or spelling. ...

Spaceflight career

Yang was selected as an astronaut candidate in 1998 and has trained for space flight since then. He was chosen from the final pool of 14 candidates to fly on China's first manned space mission. A former fighter pilot in the Aviation Military Unit of the PLA, he held the rank of Lieutenant Colonel at the time of his mission. He was promoted to full colonel on October 20, 2003. According to the Youth Daily, the decision had been made in advance of his spaceflight, but Yang was not made aware of it. Human spaceflight is space exploration with a human crew, and possibly passengers (in contrast to unmanned space missions, which are remotely-controlled or robotic space probes). ... In the U.S. Army, Air Force and Marine Corps, a lieutenant colonel is a commissioned officer superior to a major and inferior to a colonel. ... This article or section needs copy editing for grammar, style, cohesion, tone and/or spelling. ... October 20 is the 293rd day of the year (294th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Youth Daily is a state run newspaper targetting youth in China and linked to larger media outlet Peoples Daily. ...

He was launched into space aboard his Shenzhou 5 spacecraft atop a Long March 2F rocket from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center at 09:00 CST (01:00 UTC) on October 15, 2003. Prior to his launch almost nothing was made public about the Chinese astronaut candidates; his selection for the Shenzhou 5 launch was only leaked to the media one day before the launch. Shenzhou 5 (神舟五号) was the first manned space mission launched by the Peoples Republic of China (PRC) on October 15, 2003. ... The Long March family of rockets (長征火箭, Chang Zheng) is an expendable launch system designed and operated by the Peoples Republic of China. ... Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center (酒泉卫星发射中心) is a Peoples Republic of China space vehicle launch facility (spaceport) in the Gobi desert in Gansu Province located about 1,600 km from Beijing. ... Certain regions of eastern Asia, including all of China, observe a time zone eight hours ahead of UTC, known as Chinese Standard Time. ... Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) is a high-precision atomic time standard. ... is the 288th day of the year (289th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Yang punctuated his journey with regular updates on his condition — variations of "I feel good", the last coming as the capsule floated to the ground after re-entry. He spoke to his wife as the Shenzhou 5 started its eighth circuit around the Earth, assuring her from space: "I feel very good, don't worry". He ate specially designed packets of shredded pork with garlic, Kung Pao chicken and "eight treasure" rice (Simplified Chinese: 八宝饭; Traditional Chinese: 八寶飯), washed down with Chinese herbal tea. In the middle of the journey, state television broadcast footage of Yáng waving a small flag of the People's Republic of China and that of the United Nations inside his capsule. Kung Pao chicken (also spelled Kung Po chicken) is a classic dish in Sichuan cuisine, originating in the Sichuan Province of central-western China. ... Simplified Chinese character (Simplified Chinese: or ; Traditional Chinese: or ; pinyin: or ) is one of two standard sets of Chinese characters of printed contemporary Chinese written language, simplified from traditional Chinese by the Peoples Republic of China in an attempt to promote literacy. ... Traditional Chinese characters refers to one of two standard sets of printed Chinese characters. ... Tea leaves in a Chinese gaiwan. ... The foundation of the U.N. The United Nations (UN) is an international organization whose stated aims are to facilitate co-operation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress and human rights issues. ...

State media said Yang's capsule was supplied with a gun, a knife and tent in case he landed in the wrong place.

Yang's craft landed in the grasslands of the Chinese region of Inner Mongolia at around 06:30 CST on October 16, 2003 (22:00 UTC), having completed 14 orbits and travelled more than 600,000 km. Yang left the capsule about 15 minutes after landing, and was congratulated by Premier Wen Jiabao. Inner Mongolia (Mongolian: ᠥᠪᠦᠷ ᠮᠣᠨᠺᠤᠯᠤᠨ ᠥᠪᠡᠷᠲᠡᠺᠡᠨ ᠵᠠᠰᠠᠬᠤ ᠣᠷᠤᠨ r Mongghul-un bertegen Jasaqu Orun; Chinese: 内蒙古自治区; Hanyu Pinyin: N... October 16 is the 289th day of the year (290th in leap years). ... 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Two bodies with a slight difference in mass orbiting around a common barycenter. ... To help compare different orders of magnitude, this page lists lengths starting at 108 m (100 Mm or 100,000 km). ... The Premier ( Chinese: 总理 pinyin: zŏnglĭ), sometimes referred to as the Prime Minister, is the Chairman of the State Council of the Peoples Republic of China and head of Central Peoples Government. ... Wen Jiabao (Simplified Chinese: ; Traditional Chinese: ; Pinyin: ; Wade-Giles: Wen Chia-pao) (born September 1942) is the Premier of the State Council of the Peoples Republic of China. ...

Although the first Chinese citizen in space, Yang Liwei is not the first person of Chinese origin in space. Shanghai-born Taylor Wang flew on Space Shuttle mission STS-51-B in 1985. Wang, however, had become a United States citizen in 1975. Shannon Lucid was also born in Shanghai to American missionary parents, and Apollo 8 astronaut William A. Anders was born in Hong Kong, but neither were of Chinese ethnicity. There have also been a number of American-born Chinese astronauts sent into space by NASA. Shanghai (Chinese: ; pinyin:  ; Wu (Long-short): ZÃ¥nhae; Shanghainese (IPA): ), situated on the banks of the Yangtze River Delta in East China, is the largest city of the Peoples Republic of China and the ninth largest in the world. ... Taylor Wang - NASA photo (1984) Taylor Gun-Jin Wang (Traditional Chinese: 王贛駿; Simplified Chinese: 王赣骏; Hanyu Pinyin: ) (born June 16, 1940) is the first ethnic Chinese astronaut to go into space. ... For the current Space Shuttle mission, see STS-117 NASAs Space Shuttle, officially called Space Transportation System (STS), is the United States governments current manned launch vehicle. ... STS 51-B was the seventeenth flight of a Space Shuttle and the seventh flight of Challenger. ... Year 1985 (MCMLXXXV) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link displays 1985 Gregorian calendar). ... Year 1975 (MCMLXXV) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Shannon Matilda Wells Lucid (born January 14, 1943) is an American astronaut who holds the record for the longest duration stay in space by a woman. ... Apollo 8 was the second manned mission of the Apollo space program, in which Commander Frank Borman, Command Module Pilot James Lovell and Lunar Module Pilot William Anders became the first humans to orbit around the Moon. ... William A. Anders (b. ... An American-born Chinese or ABC is a person born in the United States of Chinese ethnic descent. ...

Yang visited Hong Kong on October 31, 2003, holding talks and sharing his experiences during a six-day stay in the territory. Most observers viewed this as a propaganda visit, designed to maintain the support for the Central Government in the Special Administrative Region. The visit coincided with an exhibition that featured his reentry capsule, spacesuit and leftover food from his 21 hour mission. On November 5, he travelled to Macau. October 31 is the 304th day of the year (305th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Soviet Propaganda Poster during the World War II. The text reads Red Army Fighter, SAVE US! Chinese propaganda poster from during the Cultural Revolution. ... A Special administrative region (SAR) is an administrative division of the Peoples Republic of China (PRC). ... is the 309th day of the year (310th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...

On November 7, Yang received the title of "Space Hero" from Jiang Zemin, the Chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC). He also received a badge of honour during a ceremony at the Great Hall of the People. The Chinese University of Hong Kong has given Yáng a honorary doctorate. is the 311th day of the year (312th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Jiāng Zémín (Traditional Chinese: 江澤民, Simplified Chinese: 江泽民, Hanyu Pinyin: Jiāng Zémín, Wade-Giles: Chiang Tse-min, Cantonese (Jyutping): gong1 zaak6 man4) (born August 17, 1926) was the core of the third generation of Communist Party of China leaders, serving as General Secretary of the Communist... The Central Military Commission (Chinese: 中央军事委员会 pinyin: Zhōngyāng JÅ«nshì WÄ›iyuánhuì ) refers to one of two bodies within the Peoples Republic of China. ... Great Hall of the People by day. ... The Chinese University of Hong Kong or 香港中文大學 (Cantonese IPA: , Jyutping: hoeng1 gong2 zung1 man4 daai6 hok6, Mandarin Pinyin: XiānggÇŽng Zhōngwén Dàxué), commonly referred to as CUHK or 中大 (Chung Tai, Cantonese IPA: tsÊŠÅ‹55 taːi33, Jyutping: zung1 daai6), is the second oldest universities in Hong...

The asteroid 21064 Yangliwei and the fossil bird Dalingheornis liweii are named after him. 253 Mathilde, a C-type asteroid. ... 21062 Yangliwei is an asteroid named for Chinese astronaut Yang Liwei. ... For a list of birds extinct in Late Quaternary prehistoric times and (usually) known from specimens not completely fossilized, see Later Quaternary Prehistoric Birds. ...

Aftermath

In a similar move taken by the Soviet Union and the United States (with national space flight heroes Yuri Gagarin and John Glenn, respectively) the official decision to no longer assign him to spaceflight missions was made. Thus, since 2005, he only concentrates on training works, as vice director of the Chinese Astronaut Training Center ^[1]. Yuri Alekseyevich Gagarin (Russian: , Jurij Aleksejevič Gagarin IPA: ; 9 March 1934 – 27 March 1968), Hero of the Soviet Union, was a Soviet cosmonaut who on 12 April 1961 became the first human in space and the first human to orbit the Earth. ... For other persons named John Glenn, see John Glenn (disambiguation). ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ...

See also

• Wan Hu
• Space program of China

Illustration of Wan Hus takeoff. ... The space program of the Peoples Republic of China (PRC) began in 1968 and was an outgrowth of PRCs attempt to develop an indigenous nuclear deterrent and delivery system after the Sino-Soviet split in 1960. ...

References

1. ^ http://mil.longhoo.net/n21412c21.aspx

External links

• Spacefacts biography of Yang Liwei
• United Nations: Background Information on Chinese Astronaut, Yang Liwei