With a burst of flame and smoke, a Chinese rocket blasted off into orbit yesterday. But it was the state news agency that moved faster than the speed of light, publishing the transcript of an “in-space” conversation between the astronauts before they had even left Earth.

The Xinhua news agency posted an article on its website breathlessly describing the Shenzhou VII spacecraft in orbit and quoting exchanges between the crew, possibly during the most important part of the mission: China’s first spacewalk. The only problem was that the crew were still on terra firma.

The story had disappeared by the end of the day and its appearance was described as a technical error. The gaffe highlighted China’s readiness to resort to sleight of hand — if not outright fakery — to present a perfect public image, such as the little girl who lip-synched at the Olympics opening ceremony because the child who did the actual singing was not deemed pretty enough.

Back in real time, China yesterday really did launch the riskiest mission so far of its fledgeling space programme, sending three astronauts on a voyage whose highlight will be the space walk.

President Hu Jintao had some parting words of encouragement for the three airforce colonels at the desert launch centre who were about to embark on the country’s third manned space venture. He addressed the astronauts — or taikonauts, from the Mandarin for “space” — as they stood in their white suits behind a glass wall to protect them from contamination.

“This will be a major step forward for our country’s aerospace technology,” Mr Hu said. “You can certainly fulfil this glorious and sacred task. The Motherland and its people await your triumphant return.”

The space walk, essential if China is to fulfil its ambition of building a permanent space laboratory, is expected to take place today or tomorrow. It is likely to be carried out by the team leader, the 41-year-old Zhai Zhigang, on his first flight. Two astronauts will wear space suits for the walk but only one will leave the orbiter module to retrieve experiments placed outside.

But the Xinhua story, dated September 27, reported conversations that Mr Zhai and his colleagues had yet to hold. The dialogue and running commmentary went:

“First-level measurement arrangement!

“After this order, signal lights were all switched on. Various data show up on rows of screens, hundreds of technicians staring at the screens, without missing any slightest changes . . .

“One minute to go! . . .

“The firm voice of the controller broke the silence of the whole ship. Now, the target is captured 12 seconds ahead of the predicted time . . .

Times Recommends

• No apology for Germany’s own Nazi victims
• Intricate web of fear and hope tying down deal
• Victims remembered a year after Mumbai attacks