China to conduct first spacewalk on Saturday afternoon local time

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Source: CCTV.com | 09-27-2008 09:02

A scheduled 20 to 40-minute spacewalk, the highlight of China's third manned space mission, is expected to start at 4:30 p.m. Saturday, Beijing time. That's according to the spokesman for China's manned space program, Wang Zhaoyao.

A scheduled 20 to 40-minute spacewalk, the highlight of China's  third manned space mission, is expected to start at 4:30  p.m. Saturday, Beijing time.

During a press conference on Friday, the spokesman said one astronaut will conduct the spacewalk. He will be assisted by another who will stay in the orbital module during the process. The other astronaut will stay in the re-entry module.

Wang Zhaoyao, the spokesman for China's manned space program

The spacewalker will retrieve a piece of experimental material fixed on the exterior surface of the orbital module.

The exact duration of the spacewalk will be adjusted according to the physical condition of the astronaut .