Beijing - China on Saturday bestowed the title "hero taikonaut" on two astronauts who spent five days in space last month in the nation's second foray into space on board the Shenzhou VI craft.

Fei Junlong and Nie Haisheng, whose job title is "taikonaut" after the Chinese word for "space," received the honour in Beijing's Great Hall of the People, Xinhua news agency reported.

"The successful manned mission of Shenzhou VI has displayed the great creative spirit and excellent innovative capability of the Chinese nation," said Premier Wen Jiabao.

Fei and Nie spent 115 hours and 32 minutes in orbit last month, travelling a lengthy 3,25 million kilometres through space.
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