Special Report: Third Manned Space Mission 

Backgrounder: Chinese footprints in outer space

    JIUQUAN, Gansu, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- Chinese president Hu Jintao congratulated the country's space scientists and taikonauts on the successful launch of the manned spacecraft Shenzhou-7 at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center on Thursday.  Full story

The Long-March II-F carrier rocket carrying the Shenzhou-7 spaceship blasts off from the launch pad at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China's Gansu Province, on 21:10 p.m., Sept. 25, 2008. (Xinhua/Li Gang) Photo Gallery>>>

    JIUQUAN, Gansu, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- China's third manned spacecraft Shenzhou-7 blasted off from the northwestern Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center on Thursday, carrying three astronauts to attempt the country's first-ever space walk.  Full story

    BEIJING, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- Three Chinese taikonauts who blasted off on the Shenzhou-7 spacecraft told the ground control center that they felt "physically sound" in the first few minutes of the flight.  Full story

The video grab taken on Sept. 25, 2008 at the Beijing Space Command and Control Center in Beijing, China, shows Chinese taikonauts in the return module of the Shenzhou-7 spacecraft. The center is prepared for the launching of Shenzhou-7 as all three Chinese taikonauts have entered the spacecraft at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China 18:28 p.m. Thursday, about three hours ahead of its scheduled launch. (Xinhua/Pang Xinglei) Photo Gallery>>>

    JIUQUAN, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- All three Chinese taikonauts have entered the Shenzhou-7 spacecraft at 18:28 p.m. Thursday, about three hours ahead of its scheduled launch.

    They then plugged their spacesuits to the re-entry module of the craft and checked the communication system with the ground control after reviewing the operation manual of the spaceship. Full story

    JIUQUAN, Gansu, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Hu Jintao met with Shenzhou-7 taikonauts (astronauts) Zhai Zhigang, Liu Boming and Jing Haipeng here Thursday.

    China's third manned spacecraft Shenzhou-7 will blast off from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China. The launch window was set between 9:07 p.m. to 10:27 p.m (1307 GMT to 1427 GMT). Full story

Chinese taikonauts (R-L) Liu Boming, Zhai Zhigang and Jing Haipeng attend the setting-out ceremony at the taikonauts' apartment compound of the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China's Gansu Province, Sept. 25, 2008. China counted down Thursday to its third manned space mission Shenzhou-7 which will include the country's first ever space walk.(Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    JIUQUAN, Gansu, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- The Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center held a ceremony Thurday afternoon for the three taikonauts due to board the Shenzhou-7 spacecraft before the startof the mission.

    The ceremony was held at the taikonauts' apartment compound, called Wentiange, or "Ask-the-Sky Pavillion," at the launch center. Full story