China congratulates first astronaut
China has given its first astronaut a hero’s welcome after he came back down to earth, having circled the globe 14 times.
Congratulations poured in from other nations, welcoming the success of China’s first manned space flight.
Chinese prime minister Wen Jiabao sent his congratulations and hailed the mission “a complete success”.
United Nations secretary general Kofi Annan said: “The mission of the Shenzhou 5 is a step forward for all mankind.”
The European Space Agency praised the mission as an “outstanding achievement” and Nasa sent a message of goodwill.
Japan said: “We want to offer our congratulations for the success from the bottom of our hearts.”
Locals and officials greeted ‘Taikonaut’ Yang Liwei as his Shenzhou 5 craft touched down in Inner Mongolia, northern China, on Thursday morning.
Fighter pilot Liwei, 38, was airborne for 21 hours. He emerged from the capsule declaring, “I’m feeling good. I’m proud of my motherland.”
The astronaut will meet with political leaders in Beijing later on.
The launch was broadcast on Chinese TV with a 20-minute delay, as officials considered it too risky to be screened live.
China is already making plans for a space laboratory and space station, having now become the third nation, after the former Soviet Union and the United States, to send a man into space.
