By staff reporter DENG SHULIN

CHINA was first in the world to invent rockets, and the first "astronaut" was also Chinese. In the late 14th century a man named Wanhu had himself tied to a special chair, the back of which was fitted with 47 prototype rockets, while he grasped huge kites in either hand. He hoped that the rockets would propel him, and that the kites would lift him into the sky. He failed, and died. However, his brave endeavor has been acknowledged today. The international community has named a crater on the moon after him.

So far China has launched three unmanned spaceships as a prelude to manned spaceflight. Chinese aerospace is devoted to achieving the ancient dream of man flying through space.

An indoor assembly.	Shenzhou I, an experimental craft in China's manned space program, that returned to the earth in 1999.	Unloading experiments carried back by Shenzhou III.
Trying out spacesuits.	Placing experiments in the return cabin.	Healthy chicks incubated in outer space.