Chinese President Hu Jintao (4th R) applauses after watching the launching of the Shenzhou-7 spaceship at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in the northwestern Gansu Province on Sept. 25, 2008. (Xinhua/Li Tao) Photo Gallery>>>

Senior leaders of the Communist Party of China (L-R) Li Keqiang, Li Changchun, Wu Bangguo, Jia Qinglin and Xi Jinping applause as they watch the launching of the Shenzhou-7 spacecraft at the Beijing Space Command and Control Center in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 25, 2008.(Xinhua/Pang Xinglei) Photo Gallery>>>

Chinese taikonauts report they feel "physically sound"

The video grab taken on Sept. 25, 2008 at the Beijing Space Command and Control Center in Beijing, China, shows Chinese taikonauts in the return module of the Shenzhou-7 spacecraft. (Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    BEIJING, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- Three Chinese taikonauts who blasted off on the Shenzhou-7 spacecraft told the ground control center that they felt "physically sound" in the first few minutes of the flight.

    The space voyager took off at 9:10 p.m. on Thursday from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center with leaders including President Hu Jintao present seeing off the taikonauts -- Zhai Zhigang, Liu Boming and Jing Haipeng. Full story

China's manned spacecraft Shenzhou-7 blasts off

The Long-March II-F carrier rocket carrying the Shenzhou-7 spaceship blasts off from the launch pad at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China's Gansu Province, on 21:10 p.m., Sept. 25, 2008. (Xinhua/Li Gang) Photo Gallery>>>

    JIUQUAN, Gansu, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- China launched its third manned spacecraft on Thursday with three astronauts on board to attempt the country's first-ever space walk.

    The spaceship Shenzhou-7 blasted off on a Long March II-F carrier rocket from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in the northwestern Gansu Province at 9:10 p.m. after a breathtaking countdown to another milestone on China's space journey. Full story

Taikonauts enter Shenzhou-7 spacecraft on 3-hour countdown

    JIUQUAN, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- All three Chinese taikonauts have entered the Shenzhou-7 spacecraft at 18:28 p.m. Thursday, about three hours ahead of its scheduled launch.

    They then plugged their spacesuits to the re-entry module of the craft and checked the communication system with the ground control after reviewing the operation manual of the spaceship. Full story

Chinese President Hu meets Shenzhou-7 taikonauts

    JIUQUAN, Gansu, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Hu Jintao met with Shenzhou-7 taikonauts (astronauts) Zhai Zhigang, Liu Boming and Jing Haipeng here Thursday.

    China's third manned spacecraft Shenzhou-7 will blast off from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China. The launch window was set between 9:07 p.m. to 10:27 p.m (1307 GMT to 1427 GMT). Full story

China holds see-off ceremony for Shenzhou-7 taikonauts

Chinese taikonauts (R-L) Liu Boming, Zhai Zhigang and Jing Haipeng attend the setting-out ceremony at the taikonauts' apartment compound of the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China's Gansu Province, Sept. 25, 2008. China counted down Thursday to its third manned space mission Shenzhou-7 which will include the country's first ever space walk.(Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    JIUQUAN, Gansu, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- The Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center held a ceremony Thurday afternoon for the three taikonauts due to board the Shenzhou-7 spacecraft before the startof the mission.

    The ceremony was held at the taikonauts' apartment compound, called Wentiange, or "Ask-the-Sky Pavillion," at the launch center. Full story

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