The origins and development of China's manned spaceflight programme

The development of manned spaceflight in China, which began in the 1960s, has now been progressing for over 40 years. This paper analyzes China's policy in this field from its tentative conception in 1965 to the 921 Project currently underway, before outlining future goals. The first step in China's ‘three-step’ plan has already been accomplished. The next goal, within the coming five years, is to develop rendezvous technology.