Three Chinese astronauts onboard the spacecraft Shenzhou-7 are heading back to the Earth after accomplishing China's first spacewalk.

The three taikonauts switched to in-cabin space suits at 11:10 AM on Sunday and control data for the return trip had be dictated to the spacecraft.

The craft's descent module needs to undergo complex procedures of engine brakes and separation from the orbital module, then the propelling module, before being parachuted to a "theoretical landing site" at Siziwangqi, in the central part of northern China's Inner Mongolia region.

The Beijing ground control center said the re-entry module is expected to land around 5:44 PM on Sunday.

The landing site has been cleared and visibility is good, the search squad headquarters told Xinhua. About 300 search and rescue staff will be deployed across the grassland to locate the module.

Shenzhou-2 spacecraft blasted off at 9:10 PM on Thursday

(Xinhua News Agency September 28, 2008)