Astronauts aboard preparing for first-ever Chinese space walk

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Source: CCTV.com | 09-26-2008 20:55

Astronauts aboard the Shenzhou-7 are now preparing for tomorrow's first-ever Chinese space walk.

Astronauts aboard the Shenzhou-7 spacecraft began on Friday  morning to unpack and assemble their extra-vehicular activity  suits which were made in China and are called "Feitian".

Astronauts aboard the Shenzhou-7 spacecraft began on Friday morning to unpack and assemble their extra-vehicular activity suits which were made in China and are called "Feitian".

Feitian literally means "flying in the sky", and each suit boasts 10 layers and weighs about 120 kilograms.

One suit costs 30 million yuan or about 4.4 million US dollars, and takes up to 15 hours for astronauts to assemble and put on.

The training research institute under the China Astronaut Training Center says the astronauts have to unpack the suits which are fixed on the interior wall of the orbital module. The unpacking procedure consists of 12 steps.

After assembling, the replaceable parts including the purifier, oxygen bottle, batteries and remote control instruments are installed on the suit.

Earlier, the cameras installed inside the capsule recorded the astronauts in space.

The images show the effects of zero gravity.

Astronauts have trained for years to qualify for their mission and this is part of their dream which is now coming true.

The physical condition of the three astronauts is normal.

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

Editor:Zhang Ning