When they make it, China will become the third country in the world who is able to conduct extra-vehicular activity in space following the former Soviet Union and the United States.

Chinese president Hu Jintao watched the historic moment at the launch center, joined by Chinese experts and other work staff.

Two taikonauts would enter the orbital module, where one would put on domestically-made spacesuit Feitian and leave the module to take back test samples loaded outside, said Zhou Jianping, chief designer of the country's manned space project.

The other would wear a Russian Orlan suit and stay in the depressurized cabin for support, said Zhou.

"We wish we could fly freely in space just like Feitian on the ancient Buddhist murals, so we gave this name to the homemade spacesuit," said Zhou.