Chinese state news agency Xinhua published a transcript of an in orbit conversation between spaceship Shenzhou VII crew members, while Chinese astronauts were actually still on Earth.

The communication cited by The Times newspaper apparently is to take place during a spacewalk, which will be the highlight of China’s third space mission. It was dated September 27 and appeared briefly on Xinhua website Thursday about three houts before the spaceship blasted off from Jiuquan site in Gobi desert. The ambiguous report was later removed.

The Xinhua story reported the following dialogue and running commentary:

“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…

"The cabin air pressure is normal!

“Ten minutes later, the ship disappears below the horizon. Warm clapping and excited cheering breaks the night sky, echoing across the silent Pacific Ocean.”

The incident, which happened due do a technical error, according to the news agency, marred the image of China’s much-praised space programme. The country takes much pride in being world’s third nation to independently send a human to the orbit.

There’s still a chance all the fanfares and fireworks over space exploration is meant to veil the real thing – time travel in action. Who knows?