China takes huge step in space

One huge step for China. That is how the space walk by astronaut Zhai Zhigang, the son of a snack-seller, is being portrayed to the world. As China’s leaders looked on, along with millions watching on state television, the Chinese space programme came of age. Today’s was only a short space walk, just 15 minutes outside the craft. But the aim was not to break records, but to point out that China could do it, on only its third manned trip into spaceEuronews...

BEIJING, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- Chinese taikonauts completed the country's first spacewalk Saturday, a feat that immediately became the focus of attention around the world. Vladimir Soloviev, flight control director of the Russian space mission control center and a former cosmonaut who also performed spacewalks, called on Russia and China to enhance cooperation and share their experiences in space exploration. "A spacewalk faces a series of complicated technological difficulties. China's first spacewalk contributes a lot to the country's space technology and is also a great achievement for the whole world," he said. China View...