First day in orbit for space trio

CHINA’s three astronauts spent their first day in orbit yesterday, preparing for a much-anticipated walk outside their craft, as Japan voiced hopes its neighbour had peaceful aims in space.

The voyage of the Shenzhou VII, China’s third manned foray into space, has proceeded without a glitch since it blasted off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre in northwest China late on Thursday, state media said.

“We feel physically sound,” the trio, led by Zhai Zhigang, reported back to ground control after blast-off, Xinhua news agency reported.

The Shenzhou VII entered into a round orbit of the Earth from its initial oval orbit, a complicated manoeuvre that makes it possible to get down to the real business of the journey.

The astronauts spent most of the day assembling and testing the space suit that one of them — most likely 41-year-old Zhai — was to put on for an unprecedented walk in space scheduled for today, Xinhua said.

Zhang Jianqi, one of the chief engineers for China’s space programme, said keeping three men in the spacecraft, and then sending one outside, would be a “big test”.

“This is a big technological leap,” he told Xinhua.

Japan congratulated China yesterday, hinting the two nations might work together in space in future.

Chief cabinet secretary Takeo Kawamura said it was hoped “China will fulfil its role as a peaceful nation”.