China astronauts prepare for hero's welcome on Earth

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BEIJING, Sept 28 (AFP): China's astronauts were set for a triumphant return to Earth on Sunday after making the country's first spacewalk, with a hero's welcome awaiting the three men whose exploits captivated the nation.
Commander Zhai Zhigang etched his name in the history books of this country of 1.3 billion people with a 15-minute walk in space Saturday that set another milestone in China's transformation into a global power.
"I feel well," Zhai said from outside the Shenzhou VII, after countless millions around the globe watched live on television as China joined the United States and the former Soviet Union as the only nations to complete a spacewalk.