Three institutions and 17 individuals have received meritorious titles from the Central Military Commission (CMC) for their contribution to the country's space and science programs.

A decree to this effect was recently signed by Hu Jintao, general secretary and CMC chairman of the Communist Party of China (CPC)

The three institutions are a meteorological and hydrological center under the Headquarters of the General Staff of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA), a flight command and control center in Beijing as well as a landing station under the General Armament Department of the PLA.

All the three units have made great contributions to the successful launching of "Shenzhou" space shuttles.