China has successfully completed its first ever space walk.

Astronaut Zhai Zhigang's 15 minute walk in space makes China the third nation to achieve the feat after the United States and the former Soviet Union.

The space walk is the highlight of the 68-hour mission of the Shenzhou VII spacecraft.

It's China's third manned foray into space and is considered an important step towards building a space station, China's next major ambition in space.

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