The Shenzhou-7 spacecraft landed in Inner Mongolia on Saturday afternoon and the taikonauts – including Zhai Zhigang, who conducted China’s first spacewalk while wearing a Chinese-made space suit and carrying a Chinese flag in one hand – have now returned to headquarters.

The mission “opened a new chapter of the Chinese nation in exploring and peacefully utilising space," said General Guo Boxiong, Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission.

Since 2003, China has sent six astronauts into space, including the country's first spaceman Yang Liwei, who is now a major general responsible for astronaut training.
  

Last update : 03-10-2008

Keywords : Shenzhou-7, Space, Taikonaut

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