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BEIJING: A Chinese astronaut will conduct the country's first spacewalk on Friday afternoon local time, state media reported.

Citing mission commander Cui Jijun, reports published Wednesday said the astronaut would leave the spacecraft at 4:30 p.m. (0830GMT).

The spacewalk is expected to last about 40 minutes as the ship flies above the Chinese mainland, and will be broadcast live via a small satellite hovering just outside the ship.

Fighter Pilot Zhai Zhigang, 42, a previous candidate for the previous two manned missions, is the leading astronaut to carry out the spacewalk using a Chinese-made space suit.