Shenzhou 7

Shenzhou 7

Shenzhou 7 (Chinese: 神舟七号) was China’s third human spaceflight mission, which included the first Chinese extra-vehicular activity (EVA).

The Shenzhou spacecraft launched by a Long March 2F (CZ-2F) rocket on Sept. 25, 2008, from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, carrying three crew members: Zhai Zhigang, Liu Boming and Jing Haipeng.

The three-day space mission was highlighted by a 22-minute space walk conducted by Commander Zhai in a Chinese-made Feitian (which means “flying to the sky”) space suit on Sept. 27. Zhai wandered around the orbital module and collected experiment samples while attached to cables tied to the module’s handrails, which limited the scope of his space walk. Liu remained in the airlock in the orbital module to provide help if necessary, though he did conduct a short EVA to hand Zhai a Chinese flag. Jing remained in the re-entry module to monitor the general situation of the spacecraft.

The EVA went smoothly except for a false fire alarm that had gone off in the control center.

Shenzhou 7 returned on Sept. 28 when the craft landed safely in Siziwang Banner, Inner Mongolia.