China prepares for first space walk

China’s three-man spacecraft shifted from an oval orbit to a more stable circular orbit some 213 miles above Earth early today in preparation for the country’s first attempt at a spacewalk.

The three astronauts were in good physical condition, with normal body temperature and blood pressure, the official Xinhua News Agency reported.

They were scheduled to assemble and test their spacesuits later in the day ahead of the spacewalk, which is likely to happen tomorrow afternoon.

The Shenzhou 7 spacecraft, China’s third manned mission, blasted into space yesterday on top of a Long March 2F rocket.

The launch was broadcast live on state television in a display of China’s growing confidence in its 16-year manned space programme.

Shortly before the feed was cut, one of the crew reported that they were all well and that they had extended the three-module craft’s solar panels.

The astronauts executed a 64-second burn to shift the spaceship from an oval-shaped orbit into a round one, meaning it was circling the Earth at a constant distance.

The change in orbit ensures the Earth’s gravitational pull will not vary during the spacewalk attempt, and will allow for smooth operation of the ship’s instruments.

A round orbit will also help Shenzhou make a precise landing on the Inner Mongolian Steppe on Sunday after its re-entry vehicle bursts through the Earth’s atmosphere.

The mission, expected to last three or four days, is devoted almost entirely to the execution of the spacewalk, a key step in mastering techniques for docking two orbiters to create China’s first orbiting space station.

Zhai Zhigang, an unsuccessful candidate for the previous two manned missions, has been touted by official sources as the taikonaut likely to carry out the spacewalk.