BEIJING, Oct. 24 (Xinhua) -- In 1956, China began to develop space technology when the country established its first institute for missile and rocket research, the No. 5 Research Institute attached to the Ministry of National Defense.

China successfully launched its first satellite, Dongfanghong 1 on April 24, 1970, becoming the fifth country in the world to launch a satellite.

China's first recoverable satellite was launched on Nov. 26, 1975, and returned to the Earth three days later, making China the third country in the world to master the technology.

China started its manned space program, named the 921st program, in January 1992.

China launched its first unmanned experimental spacecraft in November 1999.

Three more unmanned Shenzhou spacecrafts were launched from 2000 to 2001.

The Shenzhou V spacecraft, with China's first taikonaut Yang Liwei aboard, was launched on Oct. 15, 2003, and was retrieved the next day. China became the third country in the world to send a man into space.

The Shenzhou VI spacecraft completed a five-day flight with two taikonauts on board from Oct. 12-17, 2005, the first occasion on which China put two taikonauts into space.