Zhai Zhigang

• Shenzhou 7 (2008)

Zhai Zhigang (Chinese翟志刚/翟志刚, Zhai Zhigang Pinyin; born October 10, 1966 in Longjiang, Heilongjiang Province) is a Chinese Taikonaut. He conducted the first Chinese spacewalk.

After his pilot training with the air forces of the People's Republic of China Zhai started in 1998 to train as Taikonaut. He was included in the final list of candidates for the Shenzhou 5, China's first manned space mission in 2003, and the Shenzhou 6.

According to information Zhai Zhigang Chinese media should start on 13 October 2005 with the mission of Shenzhou 6 in space and deny together with Nie Haisheng the second Chinese space mission. He was replaced by Fei Junlong short term.

In September 2008 it was announced that Zhai Zhigang was to lead the manned Shenzhou 7 mission. On 25 September 2008 he started with his colleagues Liu Jing Haipeng Boming and into orbit. Two days later, he completed 343 km above the earth the first spacewalk in the history of China's space industry. Zhai Zhigang left the ship on 27 September against 10:45 clock CEST for a little over 14 minutes. He was secured with two ropes, wearing a newly developed, 120 -pound and 30 million yuan, the equivalent of 3 million euros, expensive space suit.

Zhai Zhigang is married and has a son. Among his hobbies, he is one of calligraphy and ballroom dancing. In his spare time he enjoys playing video games with his son.