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China astronaut to walk in space China astronaut begins space walk
(about 3 hours later)
Three Chinese astronauts orbiting the Earth are about to take part in their country's first space walk. A Chinese astronaut on board a capsule orbiting the Earth has begun to walk in space - a first for his country.
One astronaut will leave the vessel for 20 minutes to conduct experiments while a second will don a spacesuit but remain in the spacecraft as back-up. In an operation broadcast live on Chinese television, fighter pilot Zhai Zhigang, 42, emerged from the capsule to wave his country's flag.
The operation will be broadcast live on television across China. Mr Zhai is to conduct experiments with his two fellow astronauts staying in the spacecraft as back-up.
Conducting operations outside a spacecraft is essential if China is to fulfil its goal of building an orbiting station in the next few years. The experiments are essential if China is to fulfil its goal of building an orbiting station in the next few years.
The 42-year-old fighter pilot Zhai Zhigang is due to carry out the manoeuvre at 1630 Beijing Time (0830 GMT) on Saturday. Mr Zhai began the manoeuvre just after 1630 Beijing Time (0830 GMT) on Saturday.
The Shenzhou VII capsule soared into orbit on a Long March II-F rocket from Jiuquan spaceport in north-west China.The Shenzhou VII capsule soared into orbit on a Long March II-F rocket from Jiuquan spaceport in north-west China.
The rocket put the Shenzhou capsule in a near-circular orbit more than 300km above the Earth.The rocket put the Shenzhou capsule in a near-circular orbit more than 300km above the Earth.
Mr Zhai is joined on the mission by two other "yuhangyuan" (astronauts) - Liu Boming and Jing Haipeng. Mr Zhai is on the mission with two other "yuhangyuan" (astronauts) - Liu Boming and Jing Haipeng.
The astronauts have been training in a water tank The rocket blasted off at around 1310 GMT.
Zhang Jianqi, one of the chief engineers for China's space programme, said keeping three men in the spacecraft, and then sending one outside, would be a "big test".Zhang Jianqi, one of the chief engineers for China's space programme, said keeping three men in the spacecraft, and then sending one outside, would be a "big test".
"This is a big technological leap," he told state-run news agency Xinhua."This is a big technological leap," he told state-run news agency Xinhua.
"The risks are quite high. Sending up three astronauts is a jump both in quantity and quality.""The risks are quite high. Sending up three astronauts is a jump both in quantity and quality."
When Mr Zhai carries out his excursion, he is expected to wear a Chinese-made spacesuit thought to have cost between £5m and £20m ($10m-$40m). Mr Zhai is expected to be wearing a Chinese-made spacesuit thought to have cost between £5m and £20m ($10m-$40m) for the space walk.
1958: Base for spaceflights built at Jiuquan, in Gobi desertApril 1970: China launches its first satellite into space1990-2002: Shenzhou I-IV are launched to develop systems Oct 2003: The first manned space mission launches on Shenzhou VOct 2005: The Shenzhou VI mission takes two men into space Oct 2007: Chang'e-1 orbiter sent on unmanned mission to the Moon The yuhanguan will be tethered to the capsule with an umbilical cable. 1958: Base for spaceflights built at Jiuquan, in Gobi desertApril 1970: China launches its first satellite into space1990-2002: Shenzhou I-IV are launched to develop systems Oct 2003: The first manned space mission launches on Shenzhou VOct 2005: The Shenzhou VI mission takes two men into space Oct 2007: Chang'e-1 orbiter sent on unmanned mission to the Moon
His back-up, Mr Liu, will monitor the activity, presumably to reel the spacewalker back inside if there is an emergency. The yuhanguan has been tethered to the capsule with an umbilical cable.
Mr Zhai will retrieve an externally mounted experiment and oversee the release of a satellite. His back-up, Mr Liu, is monitoring the activity, presumably to reel the spacewalker back inside if there is an emergency.
On his 20-minute excursion, Mr Zhai is to retrieve an externally mounted experiment and oversee the release of a satellite.
The ship will then release a 40kg (88lb) satellite which will circle the orbiter and beam back images to mission control.The ship will then release a 40kg (88lb) satellite which will circle the orbiter and beam back images to mission control.
At the end of the mission, the Shenzhou re-entry capsule will target a landing in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region.At the end of the mission, the Shenzhou re-entry capsule will target a landing in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region.
China became only the third nation after the United States and Russia to independently put a man in space when Yang Liwei, another fighter pilot, went into orbit on the Shenzhou V mission in October 2003.China became only the third nation after the United States and Russia to independently put a man in space when Yang Liwei, another fighter pilot, went into orbit on the Shenzhou V mission in October 2003.
Two years later, Fei Junlong and Nie Haisheng completed a five-day flight on Shenzhou VI.Two years later, Fei Junlong and Nie Haisheng completed a five-day flight on Shenzhou VI.
According to the Associated Press, Xinhua posted an article on its website prior to the lift-off that was written as if Shenzhou VII had already been launched into space. According to the Associated Press news agency, Xinhua posted an article on its website prior to the lift-off that was written as if Shenzhou VII had already been launched into space.
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China's Shenzhou VII rocket blasts offChina's Shenzhou VII rocket blasts off
The article reportedly carried a date of 27 September and came complete with a dialogue between the astronauts.The article reportedly carried a date of 27 September and came complete with a dialogue between the astronauts.
Chinese media report that this latest mission is the "most critical step" in the country's "three-step" space programme.Chinese media report that this latest mission is the "most critical step" in the country's "three-step" space programme.
These stages are: sending a human into orbit, docking spacecraft together to form a small laboratory and, ultimately, building a large space station.These stages are: sending a human into orbit, docking spacecraft together to form a small laboratory and, ultimately, building a large space station.
The Shenzhou VIII and IX missions are expected to help set up a space laboratory complex in 2010.The Shenzhou VIII and IX missions are expected to help set up a space laboratory complex in 2010.
China launched an unmanned Moon probe last year about one month after rival Japan blasted its own lunar orbiter into space.China launched an unmanned Moon probe last year about one month after rival Japan blasted its own lunar orbiter into space.
SHENZHOU VII SPACECRAFT 1. Forward orbital module - crew live and work in this section, which contains scientific equipment. In future missions, this module may remain in orbit as part of a Chinese space station2. Re-entry capsule - contains seats for three crew3. Propulsion module - contains spacecraft's power unit and liquid fuel rocket system4. Solar panels - spacecraft carries one pair of solar panels5. Spacewalk - One yuhangyuan (astronaut) exits the orbital module on a tether. Another crew member stands just inside to assist in case of an emergencySHENZHOU VII SPACECRAFT 1. Forward orbital module - crew live and work in this section, which contains scientific equipment. In future missions, this module may remain in orbit as part of a Chinese space station2. Re-entry capsule - contains seats for three crew3. Propulsion module - contains spacecraft's power unit and liquid fuel rocket system4. Solar panels - spacecraft carries one pair of solar panels5. Spacewalk - One yuhangyuan (astronaut) exits the orbital module on a tether. Another crew member stands just inside to assist in case of an emergency