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.
"How did you feel like in space?", President Hu asks spacewalker
Chinese President Hu Jintao asked Chinese taikonauts what it was like walking in space in a conversation with them after the trio successfully realized the country's first-ever space walk on Saturday.
"How did you feel like in space after exiting the module?" asked smiling Hu, who was talking on a phone that connected him at the Beijing Aerospace Control Center (BACC) with astronauts on the spacecraft Shenzhou-7.
"I felt superb," answered Zhai Zhigang, who carried out about 25 minutes of extra-vehicular activity (EVA) about 343 km above the earth after floating out of the Shenzhou-7 cabin on Saturday afternoon.
"The process of taking on the Feitian spacesuit went smooth," said Zhai, looking confident and radiant on the screen at the BACC. "In the vast space, I felt proud of our motherland."
Hu congratulated the astronauts on the successful feat and encouraged them to carry on efforts to fulfill the mission.
"The thing I most want to know is how are you feeling now and how is your work going," Hu asked the trio.
"We feel well," said Zhai. "We conducted the space scientific tests as planned and the EVA went smoothly."
Hu hailed the spacewalk as a sign of the country's progress in space scientific technology.
"You have made outstanding contribution to our country's space project," said Hu. "The country and the Chinese people are grateful to you."
At 4:43 p.m. (0843 GMT) on Saturday, Zhai slipped out of the orbital module of Shenzhou-7 in a head-out-first position, wearing a 4-million-U.S.dollar homemade Feitian space suit.
China's first-ever spacewalk marked a remarkable progress in the country's ambitious space program, which will eventually lead to the establishment of a permanent space station.
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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
