Credit: REUTERS

Zhai Zhigang (pictured), the commander of the three-person Shenzhou VII spacecraft, has become the first Chinese astronaut, or 'taikonaut', to spacewalk. Zhai spent 13 minutes outside the orbital module on 27 September.

A fire alarm went off while he was conducting the spacewalk, but it turned out to be due to a faulty sensor. Zhai retrieved a rack containing lubricant samples from outside the spacecraft.

The mission landed in Mongolia on 28 September.