On October 15, 2003 (Beijing time), Mr. Yang Li Wei traveled aboard the Shenzhou 5 spacecraft atop a Long March 2F rocket into space, flew for 21 hours and 23 minutes, and made the long held Chinese dream of flying into space come true. The breakthrough which he brought about, together with technological experts, placed China as the third country which independently possesses manned spaceflight technology. He is now the deputy director of the China Manned Space Engineering Office and holds the rank of Major General; Mr. Yang Li Wei is the first Chinese citizen to go into space.

In 1987, Mr. Yang Li Wei graduated from the Aviation University of Air Force of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army. In 1988, he was awarded the rank of Air Force Lieutenant. In January 1998, he, together with 13 other outstanding air force pilots, became the first generation of Chinese astronauts. In July 2003, after an evaluation by the Astronaut Selection Committee of the Manned Spaceflight program, Mr. Yang Li Wei was recognized as being qualified for, and capable of, independent space flight and he was awarded the qualification of third-class astronaut. In 2003, Mr. Yang Li Wei went into space aboard the Shenzhou 5 spacecraft and in the same year he was promoted to Colonel. In 2005, Mr. Yang Li Wei was appointed as the deputy director of the China Astronaut Research and Training Center and the vicecommander-in-chief of the manned space engineering astronaut system. On July 22, 2008, he was promoted to Major General. In 2011, he was elected as an academician of the International Academy of Astronautics. On November 4, 2011, the first Chinese Space Post Office was established in Beijing and Mr. Yang Li Wei was appointed as head of that post office.

In November of 2003, he was honored with the title of “Space Hero” by the CPP Central Communist Party, the State Council, the Central Military Commission, and awarded the “Space Medal of Merit”, and in the same year he was elected as one of the “Ten Outstanding Young Persons” and the “Ten People who Touched the Hearts of the Chinese”. In 2004, Mr. Yang Li Wei was presented with an Honorary Doctorate degree by the Chinese University of Hong Kong. In 2005, asteroid 21064 Yang Li Wei was named after Mr. Yang Li Wei. As the astronaut who accomplished the first manned spaceflight mission of our country, Mr. Yang Li Wei has made significant contributions to China’s national defense and military build-up; by composing such an unforgettable chapter, he has had a significant influence in society, the science world and mankind’s history.