China completes first human space mission

China called its first manned space mission a success Wednesday as the capsule carrying astronaut Yang Liwei returned to Earth.

The spacecraft re-entered the atmosphere shortly after 6 p.m. ET, which is just before dawn local time. The capsule carrying Yang landed on the Inner Mongolian grasslands, said China's official news agency Xinhua.

Government television said Yang is in good condition and waved to his rescuers as he exited the spacecraft.

Yang orbited the Earth for 21 hours, the government said. With the mission, China becomes the third nation to send humans to space, behind the former Soviet Union and the United States.

Speaking earlier from space, the 38-year-old former fighter pilot said hello to "all the peoples of the world" and called the view "extremely splendid."

• FROM OCT. 14, 2003: China launches manned space flight

China's military-linked space program is highly secretive. There was little information before before the launch of the Shenzhou 5, which means "heavenly vessel."

Early reactions to China's first space flight launching a live person were mixed. Some Chinese said they were proud. Others said it had nothing to do with their lives and still others said they hadn't heard about it.

Chinese President Hu Jintao was at the launch base for liftoff. He called the launch "the glory of our great motherland," the official Xinhua News Agency reported.

Authorities cancelled plans for live coverage of the launch, apparently out of fear a mishap would embarrass China.

International observers believe China's manned space flight may make the U.S. and Russia rethink their own space programs.

"It's a very serious program that is backed up by their military and it does have national security meaning in the long run," said Charles Vick, an analyst with Global Security.

If all goes well, China's leaders hope the project will:

• enhance the country's prestige around the world
• increase national pride at home
• put China closer to being able to stake its claim in space.

China has plans for its own space station, moon landings and a mission to Mars.