In a sign of China's growing technological prowess, the Chinese space agency will soon launch its third manned mission into space.
The Shenzhou 7 mission, to launch as early as Thursday, will be the first to carry a full complement of three astronauts, one of whom will perform China's first space walk, or EVA for "extra-vehicular activity" [AP].
In 2003, China became the third nation to successfully launch astronauts into orbit, joining the United States and Russia. The Shenzhou VII crew capsule will be boosted aloft by the Long March 2F rocket, which has 66 consecutive successful launches. During the spacewalk, a companion satellite will fly nearby to relay real-time images of the astronaut's daring feat to the eager crowds back home. If all goes as planned, experts say the mission will be not just a technological achievement, but also a triumph of propaganda.
"China wants to get the flight ...
