China to broadcast spacewalk live

INT62International/Science/TechnologyChina to broadcast spacewalk liveBeijing, Sep 26 Xinhua China will broadcast live the spacewalk by one of its astronauts aboard the Shenzhou spacecraft now in orbit, according to Wang Zhaoyao, spokesperson of the manned space programme. The spacewalk, or extra-vehicular activity EVA, slated for 4.30 p.m. Saturday will last about 30 minutes, he told a press conference here Friday. One of the three astronauts aboard the Shenzhou 7 spacecraft, Zhai Zhigang, Liu Boming and Jing Haipeng, will undertake the spacewalk, Wang said. According to the schedule, the astronauts would finish testing the space suits at 1 a.m. Saturday when the spacecraft completes 19 orbits around the earth, he said. Then they would begin a 100-minute warm-up in the orbital module before undertaking the spacewalk, he said. The Shenzhou spaceship, the country's third manned space flight, was launched Thursday from Jiuquan satellite launch centre in the Gansu province in nothwest and is considered as an important step to China's plan for a space station.--Xinhuadkg/vt183 Words26091609