China's First Antarctic Expedition Sets Sail for the South Pole on the Chinese Research Ship 'Xiangyanghong 10' on Nov 20, 1984

The Chinese research ship "Xiangyanghong 10" sets sail for the South Pole on Nov 20, 1984, carrying the country's first Antarctic expedition. [Photo/sasac.gov.cn]

China's first Antarctic expedition sets sail for the South Pole on the Chinese research ship 'Xiangyanghong 10' on Nov 20, 1984

China's first Antarctic expedition set sail for the South Pole on the Chinese research ship "Xiangyanghong 10" on Nov 20, 1984.

The country's first 10,000 ton oceanographic research ship, Xiangyanghong 10 was completely designed and built by Jiangnan Shipyard (Group) Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of China Shipbuilding Industry Corporation.

The ship also played roles in major scientific experiments like China's first launches of a carrier rocket and a synchronous communication satellite.

It was rewarded the grand prize of the National Science and Technology Progress Award in 1988.

The Shenzhou-1 manned spacecraft is launched on Nov 20, 1999

The Shenzhou-1 manned spacecraft was launched from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China's Gansu Province on Nov 20, 1999.

It was the first time both the spacecraft and the rocket had been tested as a vertical assembly in a technology workshop and then transferred to the launch site as a whole unit for a remote test of emission control.

Primarily developed by China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation, Shenzhou-1 was the first flight of the country's manned space project and was a great breakthrough in its manned space technology.

(Executive editor: Wang Ruoting)