Chinese Manned LVs Credit - © Mark Wade

Tsien’s manned spacecraft design proposed in the late 1970’s was a winged spaceplane, launched by a CZ-2 core booster with two large strap-on boosters. It so strongly resembled the cancelled US Dynasoar of 15 years earlier that US intelligence analysts wondered if it wasn’t based on declassified Dynasoar technical information.

First public announcement of the manned program came in February, 1978. In January, 1980 the Chinese press reported a visit with the Chinese astronaut trainees at the Chinese manned spaceflight training centre. Photographs appeared of the astronauts at the controls of a space shuttle-like spaceplane cockpit. But then, suddenly, in December, 1980, Wang Zhuanshan, the Secretary General of the New China Space Research Society and Chief Engineer of the Space Centre of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, announced that Chinese manned flight was being postponed because of its cost. Fundamental economic development was given priority.

Masses, performance estimated based on two strap-on boosters identical to CZ-2 first stage on a CZ-2 core.

Manufacturer: CALT. LEO Payload: 7,800 kg (17,100 lb). to: 185 km Orbit. at: 28.00 degrees. Liftoff Thrust: 6,000.000 kN (1,348,800 lbf). Total Mass: 500,000 kg (1,100,000 lb). Core Diameter: 3.35 m (10.99 ft). Total Length: 33.00 m (108.00 ft).

1978 February - Launch Vehicle: CZ-2 Spaceplane Launcher.

• First public announcement of a Chinese manned program Nation: China. Spacecraft: Chinese Manned Capsule 1978. First public announcement of a Chinese manned program came in February, 1978. By November the head of the Chinese Space Agency, Jen Hsin-Min, confirmed that China was working on a manned space capsule and a 'Skylab' space station.

• Chinese astronauts in training Nation: China. Spacecraft: Chinese Manned Capsule 1978. The Chinese press reported a visit with the Chinese astronaut trainees at the Chinese manned spaceflight training centre. Photographs appeared of the astronauts in training. Pressure suited astronauts were shown in pressure chamber tests. Other trainees were shown at the controls of a space shuttle-like spaceplane cockpit.

• Grondine, Ed, Encyclopedia Astronautica, "Chinese Manned Space Program: Behind Closed Doors", . Accessed at: http://www.astronautix.com/articles/chidoors.htm.