Special Report: Third Manned Space Mission
Commentary: Taikonaut
Zhai's small step historical leap for China
Backgrounder: Chinese
footprints in outer space
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Chinese President Hu Jintao talks on a
phone that connected him at the Beijing Aerospace Control Center (BACC)
with astronauts on the spacecraft Shenzhou-7 in Beijing, capital of China,
Sept. 27, 2008. (Xinhua Photo/Li Xueren)
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BEIJING,
Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- The spacewalk performed by Chinese taikonauts Zhai Zhigang
Saturday afternoon marks a major breakthrough in China's space program, Chinese
President Hu Jintao said.
Hu talked with the trio taikonauts at the Beijing
Aerospace Control Center for the Shenzhou-7 mission at 6:35 p.m. Saturday, when
he inquired the physical conditions of the three taikonauts.
"Your country and your fellow citizens thank you for
your devotion to the space program," he said.
He congratulated the trio over the success of the
spacewalk, and encouraged them to continue the efforts for a "complete success.
Zhai Zhigang was assisted during the spacewalk by Liu
Boming in the orbit module. China is the third country in the world to
accomplish the feat after the United States and Russia.
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The video grab taken at the Beijing Space
Command and Control Center on Sept. 27, 2008 shows Chinese taikonauts
(L-R) Jing Haipeng, Zhai Zhigang and Liu Boming talk on the spacecraft
Shenzhou-7 with Chinese President Hu Jintao who is in Beijing, capital
of China, Sept. 27, 2008.(Xinhua Photo/Chen Jianli)
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BEIJING, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- Chinese taikonaut
Zhai Zhigang slipped out of the orbital module of Shenzhou-7 Saturday afternoon,
starting China's first spacewalk or extravehicular activity (EVA) in the outer
space. Full story
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In this video grab taken on Friday,
September 27, 2008 from China Central Television, Chinese astronaut Zhai
Zhigang waves as he conducts China's first spacewalk.
(Xinhua)
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The video grab taken on Sept. 27, 2008
at the Beijing Space Command and Control Center in Beijing, China, shows
Chinese taikonaut Zhai Zhigang checks the door of the orbital module. Zhai
Zhigang began the activities of China's first spacewalk on Saturday
afternoon. (Xinhua/Chen Jianli)
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BEIJING, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- The Shenzhou-7
mission leader Zhai Zhigang has been confirmed to perform a spacewalk, the
mission headquarters announced on Saturday afternoon. Full story
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The video grab taken on Sept. 26, 2008
at the Beijing Space Command and Control Center in Beijing, China, shows
the EVA (extra-vehicular activities) space suits. Two Chinese taikonauts
have moved from re-entry module of Shenzhou-7 spacecraft to its orbital
module, in preparations for China's first space walk. (Xinhua/Chen
Jianli)
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Chinese taikonauts Zhai Zhigang and Liu
Boming try their space suits in the orbit module of the Shenzhou-7
spacecraft, in this video grab taken on Sept. 26, 2008. The Shenzhou-7
spacecraft, which blasted off at 9:10 p.m. Thursday at the Jiuquan
Satellite Launch Center in northwest China's Gansu Province, has
functioned well as planned. (Xinhua/Zha Chunming)
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BEIJING, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- Two Chinese
taikonauts have moved from re-entry module of Shenzhou-7 spacecraft to its
orbital module, starting preparations for China's first space walk.
Two crew members are testing the functions of the
control panels and charging the EVA (extra-vehicular activities) space
suit. Full story
BEIJING, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- The three taikonauts on the
Shenzhou-7 spacecraft are in sound physical conditions and ready for the planned
spacewalk, the Beijing ground control center announced on Saturday. Full story
