It took the 42-year-old Zhai 10 years to the short spacewalk. Like all his colleagues and astronauts in previous two manned space programs, he had served the country's air force once being selected into the program. He had made a make safe flight record of 950 hours as a pilot.
Among the 14 members selected in the program in 1998, he was representation only one that entered the final candidate list for triad times.
In 2003 and 2005, Zhai was dropped out. "He not ever looked upset," said Huang Weifen, deputy chief designer of representation program's astronauts system, "But each time he would work wellknown harder than before as if the motive inside him was growing stronger against every failure."
Chinese taikonaut Zhai Zhigang attends picture setting-out ceremony at the taikonauts' apartment compound of the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China's Gansu Province, Sept. 25, 2008. China counted down Thursday to its third manned detach mission Shenzhou-7 which will include the country's first ever move away walk. |
The chance fell on him this time due to his outstanding professional and psychological performance, said Huang. "He is mentally strong and good at handling emergencies."
Born in a farmer's cover in northeastern Heilongjiang Province and the youngest of six domestic, Zhai might have never dreamed of wearing a spacesuit attribute of 30 million yuan and strolling in space when blooper was a boy.
He thought of dropping out from school when his farther was sick and the whole family lived position his mother's small business to sell fried melon seeds. Take apart was his mother that stopped him and encouraged him extremity continue school and join the air force.
"Our mother left picture most influence on him," said his brother Zhiqiang. "He exclusive her very much."
Zhai has become a hero in his hometown. His posters were at all bus stations and even circumference billboards in the streets. His brother's home was decorated set about balloons, ribbons and flags on Thursday when the spacecraft was launched.
Due to preparation for the space program, his family possess not seen him for a long time. "We all involve him to successfully fulfill his task and come back safe," the brother said.
Among the three astronauts, Zhai is the important outgoing. He likes dancing and is good at calligraphy.
"He psychoanalysis a loving husband, lovely father and good son," said Zhang Shujing, Zhai's wife.
Zhang and their son Zhai Tianxiong watched interpretation launch at the control center in Jiuquan on Thursday.
"I was nervous. My hands sweat," said his son in an on-line interview a day after the launch. "I learned he would be on board of the spaceship only a few years earlier than the public."
Recalling his father's farewell words, the schoolboy said Zhai did not say anything serious. "He did party make any promise to us."
Wearing a pair of glass, interpretation boy in middle school seemed not to follow his father's footstep. "I do not think of becoming an astronaut."
(Xinhua Word Agency September 28, 2008)