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“How did you feel like in space,” asks Hu

BEIJING: China’s President Hu Jintao asked the taikonauts what it was like walking in space in a conversation with them after the trio successfully realised the country’s first-ever spacewalk on Saturday.

“How did you feel like in space after exiting the module,” asked Mr. Hu, who was talking on a phone that connected him at the Beijing Aerospace Control Centre with the taikonauts. “I felt superb,” answered Zhai Zhigang, who carried out about 25 minutes of EVA about 343 km above the Earth after floating out of the Shenzhou-7 on Saturday afternoon.

“The process of taking on the Feitian spacesuit went smooth,” he said, looking radiant on the screen at the BACC. “In the vast space, I felt proud of our motherland,” he added. Mr. Hu congratulated the taikonauts on the successful feat and encouraged them to fulfil the mission. “The thing I most want to know is how are you feeling now and how is your work going,” Mr. Hu asked the trio. “We feel well,” said Mr. Zhai, adding: “We conducted the space scientific tests as planned and the EVA went smoothly.” — Xinhua

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