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Chinese astronaut takes historic walk in space
Astronaut Zhai Zhigang became the first Chinese man to walk in space on Saturday, state TV reported.
- Agencies
- Published: 13:24 September 27, 2008
- Image Credit: China Central Television
- Chinese astronaut Zhai Zhigang returned to the Shenzhou VII spacecraft to complete a historic moment in China's space programme.
Beijing: Astronaut Zhai Zhigang became the first Chinese man to walk in space on Saturday, state TV reported.
Zhai returned to the Shenzhou VII spacecraft after about 15 minutes, completing a historic moment in China's space programme.
The space mission, China's third manned foray into space, is a step towards China's goal of assembling a space lab and then a larger space station.
"I'm feeling quite well. I greet the Chinese people and the people of the world," Zhai said as he climbed out of the craft.
Zhai unveiled a small Chinese flag, helped by colleague Liu Boming, who also briefly popped his head out of the capsule.
While out in space, Zhai will make tests and launch a "companion satellite" to monitor the walk and broadcast it back to Earth. The team is due to land back on Earth on Sunday.
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