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Chinese astronauts preparing for return to earth

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-09-28 13:46

BEIJING -- Chinese astronauts onboard the spacecraft Shenzhou VII started preparing on Sunday morning for the return trip to the earth after accomplishing China's first spacewalk on Saturday afternoon.

The three astroanuts were taking on in-cabin space suits at 11:10 am and control data for the return trip would be sent to the spacecraft.

The Shenzhou VII spacecraft took off from northwest China's Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center at 9:10 pm on Thursday, and is scheduled to land on the Inner Mongolia steppe at about 5:40 pm on Sunday.