Chinese astronaut walks in space

Beijing -- Astronaut Zhai Zhigang became the first Chinese man to walk in space Saturday, clambering out of a spacecraft and waving a Chinese flag.

Zhai, 42, exited orbital module of the Shenzhou-7 spacecraft after donning a $4 million Feitian space suit and waved to a camera mounted outside the module at 4:43 p.m. Beijing time, Xinhua, the state-run Chinese news agency, reported.

"Shenzhou-7 is now outside the spacecraft," Zhai radioed to the Beijing Aerospace Control Center. "I feel well. I am here greeting the Chinese people and people of the whole world."

Minutes later, teammate Liu Boming also emerged from the orbital module, handing Zhai a red Chinese national flag, which he waved to the camera. After about 20 minutes outside the craft, Zhai returned safely inside, China Daily reported.

The spacewalk came during China's third manned space mission.

Copyright 2008 by United Press International.