Satellite circling Shenzhou 7 transmits images

A small satellite circling Shenzhou-7's orbital capsule has transmited images to Earth. This marks the successful completion of 4 "firsts" for China's aerospace history.

Many images have been transmitted by the small satellite  after circulating Shenzhou 7's orbital capsule for 6 days.

Many images have been transmitted by the small satellite after circulating Shenzhou 7's orbital capsule for 6 days.

Zhou Jianping, Chief designer of China's Manned Space Project, said, "This is the first time that a China-made satellite circulates a spacecraft."

This technique is necessary and of great significance for the construction of a space station. The spacewalk and experiments on materials as well as the satellite data relay test are all a breakthrough for China. And the small satellite is also a milestone in China's aerospace development.

Zhang Jianqi, deputy Commander-In-Chief of China's Manned Space Project, said, "We are developing a resource satellite that will conduct surveys with goals including the prevention of natural disasters on Earth. At present, one satellite can cover one third of Earth, and the data can be transmitted and gained in time."

The satellite of Shenzhou 7 marks a huge leap for China's aerospace development.

Picture released by China's manned space project on Oct. 5,  2008 shows the image of China's Shenzhou-7 spaceship, taken  by a small monitoring satellite three minutes after it was  released from the spaceship on Sept. 27, 2008. Launched about  two hours after Chinese astronaut Zhai Zhigang finished the  country's first spacewalk, the monitoring satellite has sent  back over 1,000 pictures of the spaceship. The shadow on the  spaceship was that of the monitoring satellite.(Xinhua Photo)

Picture released by China's manned space project on Oct. 5,  2008 shows the image of China's Shenzhou-7 spaceship, taken  by a small monitoring satellite six seconds after it was  released from the spaceship on Sept. 27, 2008. Launched about  two hours after Chinese astronaut Zhai Zhigang finished the  country's first spacewalk, the monitoring satellite has sent  back over 1,000 pictures of the spaceship. The shadow on the  spaceship was that of the monitoring satellite.(Xinhua Photo)

Picture released by China's manned space project on Oct. 5,  2008 shows the image of China's Shenzhou-7 spaceship, taken  by a small monitoring satellite six minutes after it was  released from the spaceship on Sept. 27, 2008. Launched about  two hours after Chinese astronaut Zhai Zhigang finished the  country's first spacewalk, the monitoring satellite has sent  back over 1,000 pictures of the spaceship. The shadow on the  spaceship was that of the monitoring satellite.(Xinhua Photo)