Shenzhou-7 launches small monitoring satellite

    BEIJING, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- China's third manned spaceship Shenzhou-7 launched a small monitoring satellite about two hours after an astronaut accomplished the country's first spacewalk Saturday afternoon.

    The satellite will orbit the orbital module of the spaceship.  Full story

President Hu says spacewalk a major breakthrough

    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.   Full story

Chinese taikonaut greets nation, world in first spacewalk

The video grab taken at the Beijing Space Command and Control Center on Sept. 27, 2008 shows Chinese taikonaut Zhai Zhigang waving while walking out of the orbit module of the Shenzhou-7 spacecraft. (Xinhua/Chen Jianli)

    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

"How did you feel like in space?", President Hu asks spacewalker

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) Photo Gallery>>>

    BEIJING, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- 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.  Full story