China's first piloted spacecraft has entered the outer space, and Lieutenant Colonel Yang Liwei is now the first Chinese astronaut in space in the world's 241st manned space mission.
At around 9:10, Shenzhou-5 moved into the preset orbit, indicating success of China's endeavor to hurl a piloted space vehicle of its own into the orbit.
President Hu Jintao, together with other Chinese leaders Huang Ju, Wu Guanzheng, Cao Gangchuan and Wang Gang, were present at the Jiuquan Space Launch Center on the occasion.
The center turned into a scene of jubilation as spectators cheered the success.
In the meantime, The Yuanwang-1 measuring vessel has been monitoring the target over the Pacific Ocean; and the Beijing Space Command and Control Center ordered the craft to open up the solar panels.
The two pairs of solar panels, which look like huge wings of the spaceship, are working as a power station with a capacity of 1,200 KW servicing the vehicle.
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