Shenzhou 7 On Its Way

China's third manned spaceflight was succrssfully launched earlier today. Shenzhou 7 boasts a three man crew, the largest so far for China.

The highlight of the planned five day mission is scheduled to be China's first spacewalk. Chinese officials say they plan to televise the spacewalk live, as a way to show China's confidence and transparency.

The spacewalk is important beyond that, however. Developing the capability to operate outside the ship is critical to achieving China's two stated goals for its manned spaceflight program-- the creation of an Earth orbiting space station, and, perhaps in the 2020s, landing on the Moon.