Chirac congratulates China on spaceship return
(cri/agencies)
Updated: 2005-10-17 14:56

French President Jacques Chirac has sent a message of congratulation for the successful return of China's second manned spaceship, the Shenzhou-6, becoming the first foreign head of state to praise the spaceship's mission.

The re-entry capsule of China's Shenzhou-6 spacecraft carry two astronauts landed on earth safely at 4:33 a.m. Monday.

Doctors say both astronauts are in fine conditions after physical checkup upon landing.

Fei Junlong and Nie Haisheng blast off Wednesday morning on China's second manned space mission.

Before landing, Shenzhou-6 has been racing around the Earth one circle in every 90 minutes 343 km above the Earth at a speed of 7.8 km per second. It has flown 3.25 million kilometers in space.

The astronauts have conducted a series of unprecedented experiments on the spacecraft, including the maneuvers between the orbital and re-entry capsules, taking on and off space suits, using space toilet and the self-test of blood pressure.

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