Source: Xinhua

04-03-2009 10:09

COLORADO SPRINGS, THE UNITED STATES, March 30 (Xinhua) -- The team of China's Shenzhou-7 manned space flight mission, which marked a number of "firsts" for the Chinese space program in a single mission, was rewarded Monday the 2009 Space Achievement Award from the U.S. Space Foundation.

The team of China's Shenzhou-7 manned space flight mission was rewarded Monday the 2009 Space Achievement Award from the U.S. Space Foundation.

A delegation from China led by Dr. Zhou Jianping, chief designer of the China Manned Space Program, and Taikonaut Zhai Zhigang accepted the award at the opening ceremony of the 25th National Space Symposium, a Space Foundation-sponsored annual gathering of the global space community, in Colorado Springs.

Dr. Zhou will also participate in the symposium's panel discussion on April 2 where he will discuss China's current and future plans for manned space flight.

"The Shenzhou-7 mission was a significant leap ahead for China's space program," said Elliot Pulham, chief executive officer of the Space Foundation.

"In only its third manned mission, China achieved a half-dozen landmark accomplishments, including the flight of a three-person crew, an impressive first space walk and capabilities for orbital rendezvous and docking. The Shenzhou-7 Mission demonstrated both modern technical capability and the good old-fashioned spirit of exploration."

Zhou said despite all the progress, China is still a newcomer and willing to cooperate with other countries in this field.

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