On Saturday afternoon, Taikonaut Zhai Zhigang stepped out of the orbital module of Shenzhou-7, and thus commenced the first spacewalk or extravehicular activity (EVA) by China in the outer space.

Zhigang reported to the ground control in Beijing, “Shenzhou-7 is now outside the spacecraft. I feel well. I am here greeting the Chinese people and people of the whole world.” Along with top space scientists, the proceedings were even watched by President Hu Jintao. The video monitor at the Beijing Aerospace Control Centre (BACC) displayed images of Mr Zhai, who waved to the camera placed on the service module, after pulling himself out of the capsule in a head-first position. The man looked good in a $4-million homemade Feitian space suit.

Before enrolling in the space programs, soon turning 42, Mr. Zhai was an Air Force Pilot. The Chinese National flag was handed to Mr. Zhai by his teammate Liu Boming, who came out of orbital module few minutes after Zhai, and they both proudly waved the flag. The ship was being monitored from inside the re-entry module by the third crew member Jing Haipeng.

Further the monitor at BACC showed Mr. Zhai gradually moving and leaning towards a test sample of solid lubricant situated outside the module. This sample was then handed over to Mr. Liu by Mr. Zhai.

Spacecrafts heavily depend upon these kinds of solid lubricants. A total of 11 types of solid lubricants were included in the tests carried by Shenzhou-7.

The event was anxiously watched by millions of Chinese and the success of this mission brings china at the third position to acquire the EVA technology after U.S. and Russia. The acquiring and mastering the technique of docking is the pre-requisite for making a space station which can  only be obtained through successful space walking.  
The Shenzhou-7 spacecraft, which took off on Thursday from China’s Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre, is expected to land on Sunday on the Inner Mongolia steppe.