Major Events of China's Space Program

October 8, 1956 An institute on missile and rocket research is set up, the first 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 scientific experimental satellite lifts off aboard a Long March rocket.

November 26, 1975 The first 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 first space walking on September 27, 2008.

(Source: Xinhua News Agency)