The Shenzhou VII spacecraft will blast off tomorrow with three astronauts aboard, one of whom will be the first Chinese to walk in space. The taikonauts, as they are known in the mainland, will be equipped with space-age gadgets as well as down- to-earth pencils. Responding to the challenge experienced by international experts in producing a writing instrument that works in no-gravity conditions, mainland scientists came up with the common lead pencil. Thicker than the earth variety, China's space pencil has a special carbon compound.
China's space experts have denied any military intent in its space programme as the country readies to send its third manned launch into space, possibly as early as Thursday night.
Shenzhou VII transported to launch site The Shenzhou 7 spaceship has been transported to the Jiuquan launching pad in northwest China's Gansu Province. This means China's third manned space flight is now in its final stage of preparation. Engineers say if the fine weather continues, Shenzhou 7 can expect to blast off late next week.
Zhai Zhigang to be China's first space walker A 42-year-old fighter pilot has been chosen to become the first Chinese person to walk in space, with the historic mission set for September 25, the government said Tuesday. Zhai Zhigang, a colonel in the People's Liberation Army, and two other astronauts will be on board the Shenzhou VII for China's third manned space mission when it blasts off for a 68-hour flight, the nation's cabinet said.
China will launch its third manned space mission in late September, state-run news agency Xinhua reports. The Shenzhou VII flight will feature China's first ever space walk, which will be broadcast live with cameras inside and outside the spacecraft.
China is to launch a three-man space flight this month, with all systems already in final preparation. This month's launch, including a planned space walk, would be between September 25 and 30 from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre in northwestern Gansu province.