Shenzhou-7 astronauts & their special mission

Source: CCTV.com | 09-25-2008 17:19

One of the tasks of the Shenzhou 7 missions is a space walk, which will be a first for China. The astronauts will face unprecedented challenges, and the selection and training of the crew has been highly focused ever since the mission was publicized.

The nature of the Shenzhou 7 mission means physical and mental requirements for the astronauts are greater than ever.

The space walk is the highlight of the several tasks they're to perform during their three-day flight.

Three astronauts will be on board. One of them will take a 30-minute space walk, and retrieve a small gadget fixed on the outside of the ship. The other two will stay inside the capsule.

Chen Shangguang, Chief Designer of Shenzhou 7 Astronauts System, said, "When the astronaut takes the very first step out of the capsule door, he faces the psychological test. The astronauts started training in this respect once they were selected. The records over the past few years have proved they are qualified."

The crew also need to be flexible enough to cope with various situations that may not during the Shenzhou 5 and 6 missions.

Chen Shangguang, Chief Designer of Shenzhou 7 Astronauts System, said, "For the first space walk, the astronauts will have to face many difficulties. I would say it is in some sense quite risky. The standards of selection are more strict. Besides body size and age, we especially focused on the astronauts capability to grasp the essentials of manipulation in space."

But this is only part of the challenges they have to deal with.

The astronauts only began space walk training early this year, when all the equipment was ready.

Space has a zero gravity environment. On the ground it's simulated in a ten-meter deep pool, where astronauts can practice their moves.

Wu Bin, Director of Astronauts Rraining Program, said, "The astronauts have dived into the pool more than ten times, and twice in a low air pressure environment. But, as we know, working in space is still a dangerous job."

Wu Bin says so far there haven't been any serious accidents in the short history of space walking, but minor mishaps are frequent. How to avoid accidents is an important part of the training program.

The space suit is the most important piece of equipment. The Shenzhou 7 astronauts will use China-made space suits.

Each hundred and twenty kilogram suit costs about thirty million yuan, or 4.3 million US dollars.

The space suit will provide appropriate air pressure, sufficient oxygen, and maintain a comfortable temperature and humidity.

It also protects the astronauts from space radiation, micrometeors and space debris.

Liu Xiangyang, Space Suit Designer, said, "It took us three and a half years to finish the suit. This is quite short. Compared with those in other countries, ours are more flexible in the joints, with a much wider field of vision. The suit is designed to work for at least six hours, and can be recycled five times. Unfortunately it will be left in space this time because there is no room for it in the return capsule."

Manned space flights are full of risk.

But they contribute to human progress, and that's why the astronauts are considered heroes. 

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

Editor:Zhang Pengfei