sent into orbit

China's manned space flights began in 2003 when former fighter pilot, Yang Liwei, was sent into orbit in a small bronze-coloured capsule, the Shenzhou-5, becoming China's first man in space and an instant hero cheered by millions at home.

The latest mission had been heralded as a historic first for Britain and Europe as it would have been the first time satellites had been sent into orbit from western Europe.

China's manned space flights began in 2003 when a former fighter pilot, Yang Liwei, was sent into orbit in a small bronze-coloured capsule, the Shenzhou-5, and became China's first man in space and an instant hero cheered by millions at home.

Those features take advantage of Geely-operated low-orbit satellites, sent into orbit by Geely's Geespace satellite unit aboard a Long March-2C rocket with help from the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology.

The Mir space station was sent into orbit in 1986, first under the control of the Soviet Union and later Russia.