Taikonaut Zhai´s small step historical leap for China

China's first manned space program, Shuguang (Dawn) 1, was initiated in 1971, but was aborted five years later due to lack of funding and low levels of technology.

The project was rekindled in 1986 as part of the "Program 863",a state-sponsored initiative to support the development of advanced technologies in a wide range of fields. That was the eighth year of reform and opening up, when its domestic output exceeded one trillion yuan. The reforms have brought profound changes to China and continue to support its future space exploration goals.

Different from the space race of the cold-war era, China's space pursuits are to explore and make peaceful use of the space without intentions at any rivalry.

It also has been thrift in developing the program by making big leaps rather than repeating missions that have already succeeded.

A 14-astronaut squad was set up in 1998. The first manned space flight was in 2003, in which Yang Liwei spent 21 hours in space. A second flight in 2005 put two men Fei Junlong and Nie Haisheng on a five-day journey in space.

Looking back, the spacewalk was accomplished with a spirit of innovation. The Feitian space suit, worn by the spacewalker, was designed and made by Chinese scientists. The myriad of technologies that made the mission possible proved the nation's advancing technical prowess. The precision, creativity and dedication of those who worked for the mission will be a mark the Chinese are encouraged to look to.

About five decades ago, when Qian Xuesen, China's father of space technology, returned from the United States, hardly anyone had seen a rocket with their own eyes, let alone building one. Decades later, thousands of bright minds in aeronautics have been nurtured.

China has come a long way in its exploration into the space and it will go further in the future.

(by Xinhua writer Lou Chen)

　Interactive:  Be part of China's journey to space!

Editor:Zhang Ning