On October 15, 2003, the People's Republic of China launched this piloted
spacecraft into Earth orbit.  Inside the capsule, named Shenzhou (Divine
Vessel) 5, was "taikonaut" Yang Liwei, a lieutenant colonel in the People's
Liberation Army.

The craft was launched atop a Long March 2F rocket from the Jinquan
Satelite Launch Center in the northwest province of Gansu.  The flight
lasted 21 hours and touchdown was in the plains of Inner Mongolia.

The spacecraft bears a strong resemblance to Russian Soyuz designs.  It
represents the first step in a Chinese program which plans to establish a
space station within 10 years and a lunar landing by 2020.

The kit itself was somewhat nondescript, containing little surface detail
and no decals.  Fit on the major pieces was poor and the maneuvering
rockets consisted of many tiny pieces that were difficult to handle.