Sea rescue team ready for Shenzhou 7 mission

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Source: CCTV.com | 09-11-2008 13:13

Sea rescue teams are ready for the launch of the Shenzhou-7 spacecraft. The teams took part in a drill on Wednesday, to enhance search and rescue capabilities ahead of the astronauts' mission.

Sea rescue teams are ready for the launch of the Shenzhou-7 spacecraft.

The drill, carried out at the mouth of the Yangtze River on Wednesday afternoon, simulated a rescue operation for astronauts. The preparations are in place, in case the re-entry capsule falls into sea if any there is an accident during the launch.

During the drill, a fixed-wing aircraft was sent to locate the re-entry capsule. Then a helicopter flew to the location, released an orange smoke signal, and rescuers then checked the situation of the "astronauts".

Zhu Baozhu, Vice Director of Sea Rescue Program for Shenzhou 7 said "The rescue ship will lift the re-entry capsule to its deck if the astronauts remain inside. We will then open the capsule and help them to get out. In case the astronauts get out by themselves before we locate the capsule, we will use the life net to transport them to the ship."

Sea rescue teams are ready for the launch of the Shenzhou-7 spacecraft.

Zhang Jianqi, Vice Director of Shenzhou 7 Space Program said "We expected the rescue mission to finish within 24 hours, or 48 hours at the most. The process took only less than one hour in this drill. We may set up a landing area in the sea in the future."

Xu Zuyuan, Vice Minister of Transport Ministry said "Our rescue mission will be called off once the spacecraft reaches its orbiting track."

The manned spacecraft Shenzhou-7 would be launched later this month from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwestern Gansu Province. The mission will be the first space walk by Chinese astronauts.

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Editor:Xiong Qu