On September 25, 2008, China’s space program achieved a significant milestone with the launch of its third human spaceflight mission, Shenzhou 7. Astronauts Zhai Zhigang, Liu Boming, and Jing Haipeng lifted off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center aboard a Long March 2F rocket. The mission, which lasted three days, included China’s first-ever spacewalk, performed by Zhai.
During the mission, the crew also deployed a mini satellite named Banxing, designed to capture photos and videos of the spacecraft. Zhai’s spacewalk, wearing the new $15 million Feitian spacesuit, lasted approximately 20 minutes and involved demonstrating new technologies, including an airlock system.
This mission was not only historic for its achievements but also pivotal for the advancement of China’s human spaceflight program. It marked a leap forward with improvements in various technologies such as airlock design, extravehicular activity procedures, and spacecraft design. Premier Wen Jiabao described it as “a victory of the Chinese space and technological field.”
The Shenzhou 7 crew safely landed in Inner Mongolia on September 28, 2008, laying the groundwork for future missions, including docking flights and the eventual construction of China’s Tiangong space station.
