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Besides some basic lessons in aviation dynamics, air dynamics, geophysics, meteorology, and astronomy, the astronauts also had to learn survival skills under extreme conditions in case their capsule landed anywhere on the earth, whether on land or at sea.

After a long- time of training, on September 20, 2003, the 14 astronauts began to exercise in the real Shenzhou-5 spacecraft at the Jiuquan Launch Center. One month later, Yang was selected as one of three finalists to be the country's first astronaut.

For the general public, it was still a question as to who would be the astronaut chosen to command the Shenzhou V,as Yang's selection for the spacecraft was only leaked only 6 hours before the launch.

On October 15, 2003,Yang was launched into space from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center. In space, YangA completed 14 orbits and traveled more than 600,000 km, before finishing China's first manned space flight, and again standing on Chinese soil at 7:00am, on October 16, 2003.

On November 7, 2003, Yang received the title of "Space Hero" fromJiang Zemin, the former Chinese President and Chairman of the Central Military Council (CMC). He also received a badge of honour during a ceremony at Beijing's Great Hall of the People.

 Other Astronauts with Chinese Connections

Although Yang was the first Chinese citizen to go into space aboard a Chinese spacecraft, there were other astronauts of Chinese origin or heritage who preceded him.

William Anders (one flight totaling, 6.13 days,Apollo 8), born inHong Kongon October 17, 1933, and indisputably the first person born in China to have orbited the moon.

Shannon Lucid, (five flights, totaling 223.12 days, STS-51-G, STS-34, STS-43, STS-58, STS-79), born inShanghaion January 14, 1943.

Taylor Gun-Jin Wang (one flight, totaling 7.01 days, STS-51-B), born in Shanghai on June 16, 1940 and, an American citizen since 1975.

Franklin Chang-Diaz (six flights, totaling 52.91 days, STS-61-C, STS-34, STS-46, STS-60, STS-75, STS-91), born in Costa Rica, with some Chinese ancestors despite considering himself a Hispanic-American.

Edward Tsang Lu (two flights, totaling 21.02 days: STS-84, STS-106), born in Springfield, Massachusetts in 1963.