Astronaut Zhai Zhigang became the first Chinese man to walk in space on Saturday, clambering out of China's Shenzhou VII spacecraft in a technological feat that Beijing wants the world to marvel at. “I'm feeling quite well. I greet the Chinese people and the people of the world,” Zhai said as he climbed out of the craft, his historic achievement carried live on state television. Zhai, the 41-year-old son of a snack-seller, unveiled a small Chinese flag, helped by colleague Liu Boming, who also briefly popped his head out of the capsule. Zhai re-entered the spacecraft safely after a walk of about 15 minutes, marking the high point of China's third manned space flight, which has received blanket media coverage. He wore a $4.4 million Chinese-made suit weighing 120 kg (265lb). Liu wore a Russian-made suit and acted as a back-up. Zhai, tethered to the ship, slowly made his way towards a chunk of solid lubricant outside the capsule, took a sample and handed it to Liu, the official Xinhua news agency said, in an experiment aimed at improving the durability of the materials. The crew later launched a small satellite to take the first full images of the spacecraft from the outside. Shenzhou VII, which took off on Thursday, is due to land on Sunday at around 5 p.m (0900 GMT), said mission spokesman Wang Zhaoyao. President Hu Jintao spoke to the astronauts on their return to the capsule, congratulating them on their efforts and wishing them a “triumphant” return. “You've done a great job,” Hu said. Zhai, apparently reading from a prepared script, thanked Hu. “The space walk mission has been accomplished smoothly. Please set your mind at ease, Chairman Hu and the people of China,” Zhai said. “In the vastness of space, I felt proud of our motherland.” The risky space walk was a step towards China's longer-term goal of assembling a space lab and then a larger space station. The fast-growing Asian power wants to be sure of a say in the future use of space and its resources. Chinese Communist Party leaders, also celebrating the mission, hailing the country's achievements in a year in which Beijing has staged a successful Olympics and coped with a devastating earthquake in Sichuan in May.
