China's first spacewalk mission, Shenzhou VII, has got a good start as the Long March 2F carrier rocket successfully lifted the spaceship into the sky on Thursday. Scheduled on Saturday afternoon (at about 16:30 on Saturday), one of the three astronauts will walk out of the capsule（太空舱）, making the first step in space by a Chinese astronaut. Our reporter Tu Yun has the details.

Reporter: The town-like Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center was somewhat quiet on Thursday night as everyone was eagerly waiting for the moment.

That moment came at ten past nine when the Shenzhou VII spaceship blasted off, roaring to the sky.

And around 22 minutes after the launch, there came the report the spaceship has entered its preset orbit. That means the launch was successful.

Head of the mission commanding team, Chang Wanquan.

"Now I declare a complete success of the launch of the Shezhou VII spaceship."

Chinese President Hu Jintao witnessed the moment.

"The successful launch marked the first victory of the Shenzhou VII mission. On behalf of the Party Central Committee, the State Council and the Central Military Commission, I'd like to extend warm congratulations to all work staff participating in the mission."

The Long March 2F carrier rockets have so far successfully sent into space all seven Chinese spaceships, including those for the first two manned missions, Shenzhou V and Shenzhou VI.

Over the next two and half days, one of the astronauts, most likely Commander of the crew, Zhai Zhigang will step out of the capsule, conducting extravehicular activities, including retrieving the solid lubricant materials fixed on the surface of the orbital module.

If the spacewalk turns to be a success, China will become the third country after Russia and the United States to grasp the technologies to send a human to walk in space.

Other tasks include the release of a small monitoring satellite and trials of satellite data relay.

The spaceship is scheduled to return on Sunday.

Tu Yun, CRI news, Jiuquan.