Chinese astronauts unveil show in HK on spacewalk mission

(chinadaily.com.cn)
Updated: 2008-12-08 19:19

Three visiting astronauts launched an exhibition on "China's First Spacewalk Mission" in Hong Kong on Saturday, giving local residents a glimpse of the country's space journey.

Three astronauts of the Shenzhou 7 space mission, Zhai Zhigang, Liu Boming and Jing Haipeng, joined other guests, including HONGKONG’S Chief Secretary for Administration Henry Tang, to cut the ribbon at the Hong Kong Science Museum.

Zhang Jianqi, Deputy Commander-in-Chief of China's Manned Space Engineering Program, said the exhibition in Hong Kong is not just about the Shenzhou 7 manned space mission. It's also a record of the country's aerospace program over the past 16 years.

The 10-day exhibition, running until Dec. 15, features the re-entry capsule of the Shenzhou 7 spacecraft, spacesuits, the national flag displayed and the gloves worn by the astronauts during the space walk in September.

50 thousand free tickets were snapped up by the public in just two hours on Friday.

During their stay in Hong Kong, the astronauts will also meet students at the Chinese University of Hong Kong and brief them on the Shenzhou 7 mission.