China's First-Ever Space Walk

China's First-Ever Space Walk Getting ready Chinese tourists gather to watch the Shenzhou-7 manned spaceship on top of the Long-March II-F rocket being transferred to the launchpad at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China's Gansu province on September 20, 2008. China's ambitious space programme took a giant leap forward on September 25, 2008 when three astronauts blasted off on a mission to undertake the country's first space walk. Zhai Zhigang walked outside the orbit module on September 27, 2008, a historic day for China. See you soon! -- A wave from the astronauts Chinese astronauts Jing Haipeng, Zhai Zhigang and Liu Boming wave as they prepare to enter the Shenzhou VII spacecraft at Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre in northwest China's Gansu province on September 25, 2008. Proud parents Chinese astronaut Jing Haipeng's parents (C) show Jing's picture before the launch of Shenzhou VII The launch The Shenzhou VII spacecraft lifted off from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre in northwest China's Gansu province at 9:10 pm (1310 GMT) on September 25, 2008. Watching carefully Chinese workers watch a large screen showing the situation in the Shenzhou VII spacecraft after it lifted off from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre in northwest China's Gansu province at 9:10 pm (1310 GMT) on September 25, 2008. Inside the spaceship This TV grab from CCTV taken on September 27, 2008 shows Chinese astronaut Jing Haipeng stays on board the Shenzhou VII spacecraft as mission commander Zhai Zhigang performs a spacewalk 343 kilometres (215 miles) over the earth. Look where you tread! This TV grab from CCTV taken on September 27, 2008 shows mission commander Zhai Zhigang preparing to leave the Shenzhou VII spacecraft. He later said, "I am greeting the Chinese people and the people of the world," at about 4:45 pm Beijing time (0845 GMT). He floated in orbit for just under 15 minutes. History here! This video grab taken at the Beijing Space Command and Control Center released by China's Xinhua News Agency, Saturday, Sept. 27, 2008, shows Chinese astronaut Zhai Zhigang walking outside the orbit module of the Shenzhou-7 spacecraft. China became the third nation to perform the feat after the United States and the former Soviet Union. Chinese astronauts on Sunday, shortly after their landing in northern China. From left, Zhai Zhigang, Liu Boming and, emerging from the space capsule, Jing Haipeng. An astronaut n chinees s 'taikonaut' taiko means astro or cosmo Helping Chinese taikonauts out of the Shenzhou-7 re-entry module ©2009 FunspirationsAll Rights Reserved. Click here toSubscribe