Chinese President Hu meets Shenzhou-VII taikonauts

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-09-25 19:30

JIUQUAN, Gansu -- Chinese President Hu Jintao had a brief meeting with taikonauts Zhai Zhigang, Liu Boming and Jing Haipeng, before their boarding of the country's third manned spacecraft Shenzhou VII and wished them success in the mission on Thursday.

"During the mission, you will wear the homemade Feitian space suit for the first time and carry out China's first extravehicular activity, which is a great leap for China's space technology," Hu said at a see-off ceremony at the launch center.

"With strong support of the whole nation, thorough preparations of various sectors, rigorous training and sophisticated skills of yourselves, I believe you will have a complete success in the mission," Hu told the taikonauts.

"The motherland and people are waiting for your triumphant return," Hu said.

The Shenzhou-VII will blast off from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China later Thursday. The launch window was set between 9:07 p.m. to 10:27 p.m (1307 GMT to 1427 GMT).