China's Space Program - From Conception to Manned Space Flight

Brian Harvey

The Chinese space program has sometimes been called the last of the secret space programs. Although it is far less secretive now than formerly, fascinating revelations are still being made.

This book is the history of the Chinese space program from its earliest times to the historic breakthrough of manned flight. Significant events include:

• Middle Ages: the invention of the rocket
• 1956: the establishment of the space program
• 1970: the launch of its first Earth satellite
• 1975: the launch into orbit and recovery of a satellite
• 1984: the first communications satellite is put into 24hr orbit
• 2003: China’s first yuhangyuan, Yang Liwei, orbits the Earth
• 2007 (planned): first probe to the Moon

China’s Space Program gives China the prominence it deserves as Asia’s leading spacefaring nation.

Preface
Acknowledgements
List of Illustrations


1. The Flight of Yang Liwei
2. Origins: The Fiery Dragon
3. Dong Fang Hong - The East is Red
4. Expanding the Space Programme
5. Communications and Conspiracies
6. Applying the Space Programme
7. Behind the Scenes
8. Launch Centres, Rockets and Engines
9. Shuguang's False Dawn
10. The Shenzhou Missions
11. The Future of China in Space


List of Chinese satellite launchings
Principal milestones in the development of the Chinese space programme
Glossaries
Bibliography
Index

Extent: 376 pages
Binding: Paperback
Publication Date: July 2004
ISBN: 978-1-85233-566-3

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