China has successfully returned three astronauts - including its first woman in space - to Earth after a 13 day mission to its 'Tiangong' space station.
The Shenzhou 9 spacecraft returned on Friday, landing in the barren fields of north-west Mongolia via parachute.
Liu Yang, the first Chinese woman in space, landed with Jing Haipeng and Liu Wang just after 2am BST.
"We have returned, and we feel good," China's state news agency quoted the astronauts as saying.
The capsule returned after a successful mission which has been seen as a technical milestone for the Chinese space program.
The capsule's docking with the experimental Tiangong module, known as 'Heavenly Place', was the first time that China has managed to transfer astronauts between two space vehicles. The launch and docking were broadcast live on national TV.
China Space Mission
A recovery team checks the Shenzhou VIII(01 of07)
Open Image ModalA recovery team checks the Shenzhou VIII re-entry module which landed in the northern region of Inner Mongolia after it separated from its orbital and propelling modules just before entering Earth's atmosphere, near Walanchabu on November 17, 2011. China's unmanned spacecraft Shenzhou VIII returned to Earth, after completing two space dockings that have pushed forward the nation's ambitious space programme. CHINA OUT AFP PHOTO (Photo credit should read STR/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty)
Liu Yang(02 of07)
Open Image ModalIn this photo released by China's Xinhua news agency, China's first female astronaut Liu Yang waves as she comes out of the re-entry capsule of Shenzhou-9 spacecraft in Siziwang Banner of north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region Friday, June 29, 2012. Liu and two other crew members emerged smiling from the capsule that returned safely to earth Friday from a 13-day mission to an orbiting module that is a prototype for a future space station. (AP Photo/Xinhua, Wang Jianmin) NO SALES (credit:AP)
Liu Wang, Jing Haipeng, Liu Yang(03 of07)
Open Image ModalIn this photo released by China's Xinhua news agency, Chinese astronauts, from left, Liu Wang, Jing Haipeng and Liu Yang, wave after coming out of the re-entry capsule, right, of Shenzhou-9 spacecraft in Siziwang Banner of north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region Friday, June 29, 2012. The Chinese astronauts emerged smiling from the capsule that returned safely to earth Friday from a 13-day mission to an orbiting module that is a prototype for a future space station. (AP Photo/Xinhua, Wang Jianmin) NO SALES (credit:AP)
Liu Yang(04 of07)
Open Image ModalIn this photo released by China's Xinhua news agency, China's first female astronaut Liu Yang waves as she is carried after coming out of the re-entry capsule, right, of Shenzhou-9 spacecraft in Siziwang Banner of north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region Friday, June 29, 2012. Liu and two other crew members emerged smiling from the capsule that returned safely to earth Friday from a 13-day mission to an orbiting module that is a prototype for a future space station. (AP Photo/Xinhua, Ren Junchuan) NO SALES (credit:AP)
(05 of07)
Open Image Modal(120629) -- SIZIWANG, June 29, 2012 (Xinhua) -- Photo taken on June 29, 2012 shows the re-entry capsule of China's Shenzhou-9 spacecraft lands safely in Siziwang Banner of north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. (Xinhua/Wang Jianmin) (ly) In this photo released by China's Xinhua News Agency, the re-entry capsule of China's Shenzhou 9 spacecraft lands safely in Siziwang Banner of north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region Friday, June 29, 2012. The Chinese space capsule with three astronauts aboard returned to Earth from a 13-day mission to an orbiting module that is a prototype for a future permanent station. (AP Photo/Xinhua, Wang Jianmin) NO SALES (credit:AP)
(06 of07)
Open Image ModalIn this photo released by China's Xinhua News Agency, members of the search team approach the re-entry capsule of China's Shenzhou 9 spacecraft in Siziwang Banner of north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, June 29, 2012. The Chinese space capsule with three astronauts aboard returned Friday from a 13-day mission to an orbiting module that is a prototype for a future permanent station. (AP Photo/Xinhua, Ren Junchuan) NO SALES (credit:AP)
(07 of07)
Open Image ModalIn this image made off the monitor screen at the Beijing Aerospace Flight Control Center and released by China's Xinhua News Agency, China's astronauts Jing Haipeng, center, Liu Wang, left, and Liu Yang celebrate inside the Shenzhou-9 manned spacecraft after the success of the manual docking between the spacecraft and Tiangong-1 lab module Sunday, June 24, 2012. (AP Photo/Beijing Aerospace Control Center via Xinhua) NO SALES (credit:AP)
"Tiangong 1 and Shenzhou 9, in the task of manned rendezvous and docking, have achieved complete success," said premier Wen Jiabao.
"This is another outstanding contribution by the Chinese people to humanity's efforts to explore and use space."
It is thought China is planning to build a full space station to compete with the International Space Station run by the United States, Russia and several other national space agencies.
It has also announced its intention to send astronauts to the Moon after 2020.
Meanwhile Nasa will not have its own rocket to send astronauts into space until 2017, and is increasingly relying on private companies like SpaceX and others to supply the ISS.