Beijing: China on October 15 declared that its maiden launch of a manned spacecraft, Shenzhou V, carrying an astronaut has been "successful" and all systems onboard are working perfectly.

The launch of Shenzhou V has been successful as the spacecraft has entered precisely the preset orbit, an official in charge of the country's manned spaceflight programme said, minutes after the blast off which took place at 9 AM (06:30 Hrs IST).

Yang Liwei, 38, became the first Chinese national to enter outer space, and China, the third country to conduct manned spaceflight after the former Soviet Union and the United States.

"The spacecraft and the carrier rocket separated at around 9:10 AM (06:40 Hrs IST), and the spacecraft entered its preset Orbit precisely," said the official.

"The launch is a success," the official 'Xinhua News agency' reported.

At about 9:30 AM, the first earth-to-space dialogue was conducted between doctor Li Yongzhi on the ground and astronaut Yang, the command and control centre in Beijing said.

"I feel good and my conditions are normal," Yang told the doctor about his body temperature and blood pressure.

According to plan, there will be several earth-to-space dialogues during the space flight. And medical workers on the ground will be able to acquire real-time information about conditions of the astronaut travelling in the space at the moment.

The Shenzhou V, atop a China-made Long March CZ 2F launch rocket, lifted off from the Jiuquan satellite launch centre in Northwest China's Gansu province which was witnessed by Chinese President and ruling Communist Party General Secretary Hu Jintao who were present at the site.

PTI