Solid lubricant is widely used in spacecraft. The test sample carried by Shenzhou-7 include 11 types of solid lubricants. Chinese scientists hoped to improve the property and lifetime of the materials by studying the samples.

"More miraculous than science fiction"

After the handover of the test sample, Zhai, who dreamed of flying into space when he was a teenager, started the core part of the space adventure -- spacewalk.

The taikonaut, tethered to the spacecraft with two safety wires and a long electric cord providing oxygen and communications, moved slowly along a set of handrails around the orbital module.

Minutes after Zhai Zhigang was outside the capsule, teammate Liu Boming emerged from the orbital module hatch and handed Zhai a Chinese national flag. Zhai waved the flag to the camera. [Xinhua]

Zhai "walked step by step" by shifting the wire hooks connecting him and the spacecraft.

The the live telecast historic moment was watched by tens of millions of Chinese and met with applauses and cheers by crowds before downtown outdoor screens and office television sets.

"Zhai's spacewalk is more miraculous than science fictions," Yan Peng, editor-in-chief of a movie magazine, World Screen, said. "As a Chinese, watching this spacewalk is such an enjoyable thing."

At a media center set up for overseas journalists in Beijing, Deng Yibing, chief engineer of the astronaut training center, turned quite emotional when watching the live show.

"The spacewalk was done exactly as it was planed," Deng said.

"As a man with China's manned space program, watching Zhai Zhigang walking in space is like a mother watching her tottering child," he said. "Even though the steps were still a little bit staggering, I am so happy and satisfied."

The successful spacewalk also brought excitement to southwest China's Sichuan Province, where people are still struggling to recover from a deadly earthquake in May.

"Mankind is so small in universe, but we are also brave. The taikonaut's courage to explore the unknown universe is an inspiration to me," Deng Fuqiang, a teacher at a tent school in Mianyang.

"No matter it is natural disaster or space exploration, I believe there is nothing we cannot overcome as long as we pool our efforts and be united," said Deng, who watched the online broadcast in his office.

The performance of the Chinese astronauts in conducting China's first ever spacewalk looks very impressive, said Karl Bergquist, an expert with the European Space Agency (ESA) in a telephone interview on Saturday.

"I have just seen the first Chinese extra-vehicular activity (EVA) on the Website of Xinhua, It looks very impressive. The Chinese astronauts have done a nice job. I am really happy for China," said Bergquistam.

He also said, "There was a lot of interests in the European space community regarding the Sehnzhou-7 launch. We saw the launch at our office here at ESA and it was very impressing! We are also very confident about the success of China's first EVA."

"The success of China's first EVA means now China has finished two challenging tasks during this mission and will of course push forward the development of China's space industries," said Bergquist.

Karl Bergquist is an expert responsible for cooperation between ESA and China.