Yang's words at 9:34 am (0134 GMT) came some 34 minutes into the historic mission and as Chinese space administrators declared the launch "a complete success," state press said.

The Shenzhou V was launched aboard a Long March 2-F carrier rocket from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwestern China, some 1,500 kilometers (900 miles) west of the capital Beijing.

"I feel good, see you tomorrow," Yang was quoted by Xinhua news agency as saying.

The space craft was "operating normally," he said.

Before the launch Yang was seen on China Central Television at a pre-flight ceremony asking the commander of China's manned space program Li Jinai to give the order to proceed with the mission.

"Comrade commanders, I have received orders to undertake China's first manned space flight, preparations are complete and I'm awaiting and requesting further instructions," Yang, a colonel in the People's Liberation Army, said.

"Proceed," Li ordered.

In earlier interviews with the Chinese press before the Wednesday morning flight, Yang expressed his feelings of honor at being chosen as China's first astronaut in space and urged his family not to worry.

"I want to thank the motherland and the people for training me and having confidence in me. I will not let the motherland and the people down," Yang told Xinhua.

"To my family, I would like to say, thank you for supporting and encouraging me. Don't worry, I have already made ample preparations, I have confidence and the ability to fully accomplish the tasks of this mission."

In comments before his selection as China's first astronaut, Yang told the leading People's Daily that whoever was selected would be representing the entire nation and people.

"To fulfill the 1,000-year-old dream of the Chinese nation to fly in space is a sacred mission, we are lucky to assume this task and feel greatly honored," Yang said.

"Whoever is named to fulfill this task and realize this dream, represents the motherland and people.

"What we are thinking of most are the mission procedures and flight and how to fulfill this task with all of our energy."

SPACE.WIRE