This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/sci/tech/7640301.stm
The article has changed 10 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 4 | Version 5 |
|---|---|
| China spacecraft returns to Earth | China spacecraft returns to Earth |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| China's Shenzhou VII space capsule has returned to Earth after a successful mission orbiting the planet. | China's Shenzhou VII space capsule has returned to Earth after a successful mission orbiting the planet. |
| The spacecraft touched down in the Mongolian desert to rapturous applause from mission control. The three astronauts were said to be well. | The spacecraft touched down in the Mongolian desert to rapturous applause from mission control. The three astronauts were said to be well. |
| While in orbit, the three-man crew conducted experiments said to be crucial to China's space programme. | While in orbit, the three-man crew conducted experiments said to be crucial to China's space programme. |
| The highlight of the trip was a space walk - the first in the country's historY - broadcast live on TV. | The highlight of the trip was a space walk - the first in the country's historY - broadcast live on TV. |
| During the brief operation, fighter pilot Zhai Zhigang emerged from the capsule to wave a Chinese flag. | During the brief operation, fighter pilot Zhai Zhigang emerged from the capsule to wave a Chinese flag. |
| Advertisement | |
| China's Shenzhou VII space capsule lands in the desert | |
| Mr Zhai, 42, stayed outside the capsule for 15 minutes while his two fellow astronauts stayed in the spacecraft. | Mr Zhai, 42, stayed outside the capsule for 15 minutes while his two fellow astronauts stayed in the spacecraft. |
| The exercise was seen as key to China's ambition to build an orbiting station in the next few years. | The exercise was seen as key to China's ambition to build an orbiting station in the next few years. |
| Zhai Zhigang and the other two astronauts on the Shenzhou VII craft are due to land around 1740 (0940 GMT) in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. | Zhai Zhigang and the other two astronauts on the Shenzhou VII craft are due to land around 1740 (0940 GMT) in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. |
| Pride | Pride |
| Mr Zhai wore a Chinese-made spacesuit thought to have cost between £5m and £20m ($10m-$40m) for the space walk. | Mr Zhai wore 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 | 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 "yuhangyuan" (astronaut) was tethered to the capsule with an umbilical cable. | The "yuhangyuan" (astronaut) was tethered to the capsule with an umbilical cable. |
| President Hu Jintao spoke to the astronauts at the Beijing Aerospace Control Center for the Shenzhou-VII mission, state news agency Xinhua reported. | President Hu Jintao spoke to the astronauts at the Beijing Aerospace Control Center for the Shenzhou-VII mission, state news agency Xinhua reported. |
| "Your country and your fellow citizens thank you for your devotion to the space programme," he told them. | "Your country and your fellow citizens thank you for your devotion to the space programme," he told them. |
| The Shenzhou VII capsule soared into orbit on a Long March II-F rocket from Jiuquan spaceport in north-west China on 25 September. | The Shenzhou VII capsule soared into orbit on a Long March II-F rocket from Jiuquan spaceport in north-west China on 25 September. |
| 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. |
| 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 emergency | 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 emergency |