China's spacewalk mission go for October

[Rick]

China's postponed Shenzhou VII manned space mission will now launch in October, Reuters reports.

More: http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/06/12/china_spacewalk_mission/

[Rick]

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.

Three "yuhangyuan" (astronauts) will blast off on a Long-March II-F rocket sometime between 25 and 30 September.

More: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7602968.stm

[Rick]

China's third manned spaceshot is slated to lift off at 13:10 GMT on 25 September, New Scientist reports. The three-man jaunt will blast off from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwestern Gansu Province atop a Long-March II-F rocket, following a six-month delay to the planned launch.

Huang Chunping, rocket systems consultant for the Chinese Manned Space Programme, told the Oriental Morning Post: "We will check the weather conditions to decide whether to launch as planned."

More: http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/09/16/china_space_mission/

[Rick]

The Director of Jiuquan Launch Center claims that China is set to build a space station by snapping together four spaceships (Shenzhou 7, 8, 9, and 10), to be launched sequentially, according to a report by Hong Kong newspaper the Ming Pao Daily News.

Though other reports indicate that taikonauts aboard Shenzhou 7 will return to Earth on September 28, the official source claimed the ship will remain in the orbit to be docked with unmanned Shenzhou 8 and 9.

Finally, the manned spaceship Shenzhou 10 will be launched and dock with the other three, completing the space station.

More: http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/09/18/china_space_station/

[Rick]

China has announced the names of three astronauts who will carry out its third manned space mission.

A 42-year-old fighter pilot, Zhai Zhigang, has been chosen to perform the country's first spacewalk.

He will be joined by Liu Boming and Jing Haipeng on the Shenzhou VII mission - set to launch on 25 September at 1310 GMT (2110 local time).

More: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7618724.stm

[Rick]

China has launched its third manned space mission - which is to feature the country's first spacewalk.

The Shenzhou VII capsule soared into orbit atop a Long-March II-F rocket from the Jiuquan spaceport in Gansu province in the northwest of China.

The 70-hour flight will include a spacewalk undertaken by 42-year-old fighter pilot Zhai Zhigang.

More: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7634404.stm

Extra: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7635397.stm

[Rick]

China's Shenzhou VII spacecraft blasted off today at 13:10 GMT from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwestern Gansu Province atop a Long-March II-F rocket. The mission marks the communist state's third manned space jaunt, and the first to include a spacewalk - if all goes according to plan.

More: http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/09/25/shenzhou_vii_mission/

[Rick]

A Chinese astronaut has become the first in his country's history to take a walk in space.

In an operation broadcast live on national TV, fighter pilot Zhai Zhigang emerged from the capsule orbiting the Earth to wave a Chinese flag.

Mr Zhai, 42, stayed outside the capsule for 15 minutes while his two fellow astronauts stayed in the spacecraft.

More: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7637818.stm

[Rick]

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.

More: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7640301.stm