On Oct. 15, 2003,
Space Imaging's IKONOS satellite collected the resampled
one-meter resolution satellite image of China's expansive Jiuquan Space
Launch Center shown above. The image was taken about 3 hours after
China's first
manned spacecraft Shenzhou V lifted off atop a Long March 2-F rocket.
The Shenzhou V spacecraft
touched down as planned after 21 hours in orbit, safely delivering
astronaut Yang Liwei back to Earth.
The mission made
China the third nation to launch a manned spacecraft into orbit.
