Wentiange: Astronaut´s apartment

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Source: CCTV.com | 09-24-2008 18:40

How are the astronauts of Shenzhou-7 spending their last day before leaving for the space? Let's step into Wentiange, the astronaut's apartment building at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center to find out.

The two-storey building, called Wentiange, is the home of  astronauts and other space staff who stay here for four  days before every launch mission.

The two-storey building, called Wentiange, is the home of astronauts and other space staff who stay here for four days before every launch mission.

The canteen is on the first floor. The astronauts will have their last meal here before blasting off into space. The food prepared for them is high in calories and low in fibre.

Next to the canteen is the gym, with exercise a part of every astronaut's daily routine.

Now to the living room, which leads to three bedrooms for the three crew members. These rooms are simple but comfortable.

Seven hours before the launch, the astronauts will undergo medical tests, mainly on blood pressure and pulse. Then they'll put on their space suits. When they're finished getting dressed, the spacemen will have one more medical test to check their physical condition inside the suits. The whole process takes about 2 hours.

Their next step will be sitting in their launch seat, just like this.

Space suit designer Xi Libin said, "They will stay inside the chairs in this way during the launch. It will protect them from the impact of weightlessness or high g-force situations."

On Thursday, a ceremony will be held right before the astronauts' departure. There they will receive one last important thing before journeying into space, the best wishes of the entire nation.

　Interactive:  Be part of China's journey to space!

Editor:Zhang Ning