The Long March 2F launch vehicle and the Shenzhou (‘Divine Craft’) spacecraft were produced by the People’s Republic of China. With it, China became only the third nation to build and launch its own manned spacecraft.

Unlike the Russian and American space race of the 1950s and 1960s, the Chinese manned space program was undertaken to develop an advanced Chinese space technology so the first phase of development unfolded over a period of 13 years.

The Shenzhou is similar to Russia’s Soyuz but it is substantially larger and more advanced.

After four test launches of the Long March 2F/Shenzhou between 1992 to 2002 the first manned flight, carrying Yang Liwei, took place on 15 October 2003.

It was followed by a two man flight in October 2005.

This model represents the Long March 2F carrying Shenzou 5 on 15 October 2003.

Real Space 1/144 kit completed by Leigh Edmonds in September 2008.