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Chinese astronaut takes first ever space walk

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Beijing, Sept 27, IRNA

China-Space Industry

A Chinese astronaut has begun the nation's first ever space walk.

Zhai Zhigang begins his country's historic walk in space.

Zhai Zhigang, 41, exited the Shenzhou VII spacecraft high above the Earth for what is expected to be a 20-minute peek into the heavens.

"I'm feeling quite well. I greet the Chinese people and the people of the world," Zhai said as he clambered out of the craft.

He is wearing a specially made suit that took 15 hours to put on and is worth nearly euro 2.5m.

Fellow astronaut Liu Boming also emerged briefly from the capsule to hand Zhai a Chinese flag that he then waved for an exterior camera.

The third crew member, Jing Haipeng, is monitoring the ship from inside the re-entry module.

The space walk is the highlight of the 68-hour mission - China's third manned foray into space.

IRNA reporter in Beijing said citing the Chinese scientists that it is considered an important step towards building a space station.