Small steps, great leap

Let us hope that everything goes as planned 343 km above the earth so, some time tomorrow afternoon, we can witness the first ever spacewalk by a Chinese astronaut.

This maiden extra vehicular activity (EVA) will be more than a spacewalk, it will mark a great leap forward in the truest sense.

Behind it are decades of independent research and development that made possible China's manned space flights. In 2003, we came to know and remember Yang Liwei, hero of the country's first manned space mission. Two years later, we saw China's first two-man mission aboard Shenzhou VI. Now, Shenzhou VII is carrying a crew of three. Each flight represents an important step forward for China's space industry.