Other Designations: Project 921-1. Manufacturer's Designation: Project 921-1. Class: Manned. Type: Spacecraft. Destination: Maximum Payload Orbit. Nation: China. Agency: CASC. Manufacturer: SAST.

The Chinese Shenzhou manned spacecraft resembled the Russian Soyuz spacecraft, but was of larger size and all-new construction. Like the Soyuz, it consisted of a forward orbital module, a re-entry capsule, and an aft service module. Unlike the Soyuz, the orbital module was equipped with its own propulsion, solar power, and control systems, allowing autonomous flight. The Shenzhou project received limited funding, resulting in a protracted development program. Work began in 1992, with annual unmanned flights finally beginning in the winter of 1999/2000. The development of Shenzhou's thirteen sub-systems took the effort of thousands of engineers and technicians in 300 organisations in China. The first manned flight was planned for the autumn of 2003. Shenzhou would be used to develop manned spaceflight techniques (extravehicular activity, rendezvous and docking) and later serve as a ferry to Chinese space stations and as a lunar orbital and landing spacecraft.