( CNN ) -- China 's space program has really taken off in the last six years . In 2003 Yang Liwei became a national hero when he became the first Chinese man in space , followed five years later by Zhai Zhigang who became the first `` taikonaut '' to make a spacewalk . `` The moment I stepped out of the hatch and entered space , the sensation of completely becoming one with space was a feeling I had never felt before on Earth , '' Zhai told CNN . `` I deliberately looked into outer space , looking past my toes and deep into outer space . The differing brightness and distances of the celestial bodies really brought out the deepness of outer space . The vast , boundless expanse of outer space stirred my soul . '' From out of this world moments to their place in Chinese history , these two pioneering spacemen tell CNN 's John Vause about their missions , how they had prepared for the worst should things go wrong and if China and other nations with the moon in their sights are creating a new international space race . `` The moment I stepped out of the hatch and entered space , the sensation of completely becoming one with space was a feeling I had never felt before on Earth , '' Zhai told CNN . `` I deliberately looked into outer space , looking past my toes and deep into outer space . The differing brightness and distances of the celestial bodies really brought out the deepness of outer space . The vast , boundless expanse of outer space stirred my soul . '' From out of this world moments to their place in Chinese history , these two pioneering spacemen tell CNN 's John Vause about their missions , how they had prepared for the worst should things go wrong and if China and other nations with the moon in their sights are creating a new international space race .
Chinese ` ` taikonauts '' Zhang Wei and Zhang Zhigang talk to CNN . First Chinese man in space and first Chinese to conduct a mission , respectively . Talk about their historic contributions to international space policy .