Chinese astronaut makes nation's first spacewalk

BEIJING (AP) — A Chinese astronaut on Saturday performed the nation's first-ever spacewalk, the latest milestone in an ambitious program that is increasingly rivaling the United States and Russia in its rapid expansion.

Mission commander Zhai Zhigang floated out of the orbiter module's hatch in the spacewalk, shown live on state broadcaster CCTV. Tethered to handles attached to the Shenzhou 7 ship's orbital module's exterior, Zhai remained outside for about 13 minutes before climbing back inside and closing the hatch behind him.

"Shenzhou 7 has left the module, physically feel very good. Greetings to all the people of the nation and all the people of the world," Zhai said.

Fellow astronaut Liu Boming also emerged briefly from the capsule to hand Zhai a Chinese flag that he waved for an exterior camera filming the event. The third crew member, Jing Haipeng, monitored the ship from inside the re-entry module.

The successful spacewalk paves the way for assembling a space station from two Shenzhou orbital modules, the next major goal of China's manned spaceflight program. China is also pursuing lunar exploration and may attempt to land a man on the moon in the next decade.

China launched its first manned mission, Shenzhou 5, in 2003, followed by a two-man mission in 2005.

Since blasting off from their northwestern China launch base on Friday, the astronauts had been largely occupied with preparing the suits and adapting to zero gravity. Meals aboard the craft have followed a typical Chinese menu, featuring versions of kung pao chicken, shrimp and dried fruit, the official Xinhua News Agency said.

On Friday, the three-module capsule shifted from an oval orbit to a more stable circular orbit 213 miles (343 kilometers) above Earth, meaning it is circling at a constant distance.

The change ensured that Earth's gravitational pull would not vary during the spacewalk attempt and will help Shenzhou make a precise landing on the Inner Mongolian Steppe on Sunday after its re-entry vehicle bursts through Earth's atmosphere, Xinhua said.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• Shenzhou-7
• Shenzhou
• china
• space
• walk
• spacewalk
• Zhai
• Zhigang
• Liu
• Boming
• Jing
• Haipeng
• EVA
• E.V.A.
• CCTV9

[andyhwang2009]

@A86

you are right. all western and  europe media recognize china space walk.

[260191894]

@ar2de2em2 I agree. Space exploration can unite us. After all, Earth is only an infinitesimally small thing in the Universe.

[MrJasongreen71]

what are does bit's of debry flying by i thought it was space aren't they suppose to float

[BlindMrSquirrel]

@Joniel120 lol

[Joniel120]

FAKE, FAKE, FAKE , FAKE & FAKE CHINA

USA RULES!

[Truthrevealed21]

@260191894

True, but being that the earth is so over populated, man will always create more wars to eliminate human life. People just don't get it. They need to stop having so many babies, this only makes the world famine worse. The next war will be with North Korea and Iran and that will really eliminate more life. People need to wake up and work together.

[Truthrevealed21]

@ar2de2em2

I would love it if China would land on the moon. I hope they explore the part of the moon that the U.S. hasn't explored. Hopefully they will discover new things. I hope that they don't cover up anything they find. You know the U.S. Government is always covering things up and keeping them away from the public.

[Scopps94]

this looks and sounds....so fake!

[260191894]

It kind of remind me of the groundhog: If the Chinese is scared of outer space and comes back through the hatch, exploration to Mars will be delayed for 40 years. If he is not scared of deep space, humans will be sent to Mars within the next 20 years. lol

[Ironside451]

Be cool if the iss and this thing hooked up

[BBMSergey]

nice original space bubbles.

nice try lol