BEIJING -- China's unmanned "Shenzhou II" spacecraft returned safely to earth on Tuesday after a seven-day mission, part of a program to put astronauts into space in the next five years.

The spacecraft landed in China's northern region of inner Mongolia at 7.22 p.m. (1122 GMT) after circling the earth 108 times and carrying out scientific experiments, state television and the official Xinhua news agency said.

"The successful launching and recovery of Shenzhou II indicates China's manned spaceflight technology is advancing and has laid a solid foundation for the country to eventually conduct manned space flights," Xinhua said.

The spacecraft carried animals and microbial cells for experiments on the impact of space on various life forms to ensure it could carry humans into space safely, the report said.

China had recovered the spacecraft and would ship it to the capital city of Beijing in the coming days, Xinhua said.

The mission followed a similar one in November 1999 by "Shenzhou I", China's first unmanned spaceship, which circled the earth 14 times before returning safely 21 hours later.

Last month, state media said China aimed to put an astronaut into space within five years, setting an official timetable for the first time.

In 1999, China announced a four-step manned spaceflight plan, with the aim of establishing a space station served by shuttle-style vehicles.

China Seeks Prestige

Chinese leaders are eager for the pride and prestige that would come if China joined the United States and former Soviet Union as the only countries to put a person into space.

The Shenzhou II was launched from Jiuquan in northwestern China aboard the latest version of the long march rocket, official media have said.

It was the first time China has carried out such a launch in the middle of winter, in temperatures of minus 13 degrees Celsius (8.6 degrees Fahrenheit), they said.

Xinhua said the launch marked a new stage of China's space research and exploration, and would promote the development of science and technology, as well the national economy.

China, which has launched satellites for U.S. and Brazilian operators, among others, is also keen to capture a bigger slice of the rich world market.

A government policy "white paper" issued last November said China planned to become a leading player in space exploration and commerce by building mainly on a home-grown rocket and satellite program.

It gave no budget or income figures for China's 45-year-old space program, but said cumulative spending on space technology since 1956 was equivalent to the amount spent by advanced space-faring countries in one year.

The document stressed that China would stick largely to its go-it-alone approach, which up to the end of last year had launched 47 domestically made satellites, developed the "long march" series of rockets and built three launch sites.

Last month, state radio said China would launch more than 30 satellites between 2001 and 2005.

(Reuter)