Chinese taikonauts Zhai Zhigang and Liu Boming try their space suits in the orbit module of the Shenzhou-7 spacecraft, in this video grab taken on Sept. 26, 2008. The Shenzhou-7 spacecraft, which blasted off at 9:10 p.m. Thursday at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China's Gansu Province, has functioned well as planned.
The sun always rises. Twenty-four hours into their space adventure, the three Chinese taikonauts on board the Shenzhou-7 spaceship have witnessed sunrise and sunset for 16 times in their 680,000-kilometer journey.
Despite a challenging mission slated on Saturday -- the nation's first attempt on a space walk, the trio, Zhai Zhigang, Liu Boming and Jing Haipeng, kept "quite relaxed and spirited" since they were sent into orbit at 9:10 p.m. Thursday, officials with the Beijing Aerospace Control Center said.
EATING
Since Shenzhou-7 blasted off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest Gansu Province, the three men, all aged 42, have had three meals over the past 24 hours.
Compared with their predecessors in the previous two missions of the country's manned space program, the Shenzhou-7 taikonauts are quite spoiled with a spicy 80-dish menu.
Their nutritionists have disclosed that their choices range from Kung Pao Chicken, deshelled shrimp to frozen dry fruits. For vinegar-loving Jing, the seasoning is well at hand, as various seasoning and sauces are provided on board. Jing is from northern Shanxi Province, where vinegar is a favorite condiment for locals.
Compared with Jing, Nie Haisheng, an astronaut on the Shenzhou-6 mission in 2005, was not that lucky. "I missed very much my favorite spicy foods and garlic sauce during my flight," Nie recalled.
What's more, the Shenzhou-7 taikonauts will not need to worry for half-cooked rice as Nie ate in his mission. The food heater onboard Shenzhou-7 has a stronger electricity supply than that on Shenzhou-6 as it is connected to the main power supply, which will make sure their rice can be fully cooked.
Chinese taikonaut Zhai Zhigang tries a bite on his food in the orbit module of the Shenzhou-7 spacecraft, in this video grab taken on Sept. 26, 2008. The Shenzhou-7 spacecraft, which blasted off at 9:10 p.m. Thursday at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China's Gansu Province, has functioned well as planned.
SLEEPING
Monitoring video at the BACC showed that Jing Haipeng was sleeping in the re-entry module at noon on Friday. With two hands in front of the chest, Jing slept quietly.
Staff at the BACC told Xinhua that Jing was actually taking a nap. The right place to sleep was the orbital module, where sleeping bags were placed.
The sleeping bags, made of warm fabrics and cashmere, are hooked on the wall of the orbit module. Astronauts only need to get into the sleeping bag and fasten the zipper if they want to sleep.
Under the low-gravity condition, astronauts may sleep standing, sitting or lying. When they sleep, they have to put their arms inside the sleeping bag and tie their hands on their chests, so as not to touch equipment switches accidentally.
FUN
Having been trained for a decade for the manned space mission, the men were eager to enjoy the feeling of a "real" loss of gravity, as Liu Boming said when meeting reporters before they started the space journey.
Liu flipped a pencil and smiled while watching it floating as soon as Shenzhou-7 entered the orbit, while Zhai let go his work manual and watched with keen interest.
They also took every chance to take as many pictures as possible.
At 1:30 p.m. Friday, Jing moved to the left side of the module and started taking pictures of the earth. He stopped for a while to check the photos, but then, apparently not very satisfied, started to press the camera button again.
Chinese experts work at the Beijing Aerospace Control Center in Beijng, capital of China, Sept. 26, 2008. BACC,the nerve center of China's outer space program, becomes the navigator for the Shenzhou-7 after China's third manned spaceship Shenzhou-7 moved into orbit on Friday.
WORK
Of course, working is the most important part.
On Friday morning, Shenzhou-7 entered a stable circular orbit where the taikonauts assembled the 4.4-million-dollar homemade Feitian space suit for extra-vehicular activity and started training for the country's maiden spacewalk.
Zhai and Liu spent more than 11 hours unpacking and assembling the EVA suits in the orbital module, while Jing stayed in the re-entry module to keep an eye on the vessel operation.
The two began adaptive training after finishing assembling the suits. The training, which was to make sure the taikonauts could adapt to the low-gravity environment in space, lasted about 100 minutes.
The spacewalk, expected to last about 30 minutes, is scheduled to take place at 4:30 p.m. Saturday. The whole process would be broadcast live on television, according to Wang Zhaoyao, spokesperson with the manned space program.
The ground crew work at the Beijing Space Command and Control Center in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 26, 2008. The Shenzhou-7 spacecraft, which blasted off at 9:10 p.m. Thursday at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China's Gansu Province, has functioned well as planned.
Source: Xinhua
Saturday, September 27, 2008
International community should make a just agreement on climate change
The International community should make a just agreement in dealing with climate change, otherwise it won't work, says Stefen Edman, a biologist and climate change expert in Stockholm.
He made the remark recently in an interview with People's Daily Online reporter after giving a speech about Human, Environment and Society in Stockholm to more than 100 participants who care about environment and climate change issues.
Stefen Edman was the policy advisor to former Prime Minister Göran Persson. He helped to draft the policy that Sweden will reduce oil consumption by 70% over the next 30 years and in the end to achieve oil free country. Sweden is actively implementing such policies now which sees the effect already but in transport sector it is still difficult because Sweden has 4.3 million personal cars, almost every two person has a car.
Being asked about the dilemma that America as the largest emitter in per capita in the world refused to sign the Kyoto Protocol in fulfilling its responsibility of reducing greenhouse gas emission by saying that China must shoulder more responsibilities, then America will take their responsibility, Edman said "You could not reach an agreement unless you have a just agreement. China's per capita emission is just 3 tons while that of the US is 20 tons. Thus America should take bigger responsibility."
Edman said that in the thick forest, if you look at lives under your foot, you will find 120 thousand small animals, 5 billion bacteria and many other things. It is these animals and bacteria that form a web of life and human being must rely on them.
"If these tiny animals or bacteria disappear, we will have no food. Thus we must love our earth." said Edman. "We must change the lifestyle of our middle class otherwise we will eat up the achievement made by the new technology. We must have a healthy lifestyle, careful consumption based on non material mechanism. We can develop more in culture and education.
Edman also wrote several books including ‘The Earth has got a fever.'
By Xuefei Chen Axelsson, People's Daily Online correspondent in Stockholm.
He made the remark recently in an interview with People's Daily Online reporter after giving a speech about Human, Environment and Society in Stockholm to more than 100 participants who care about environment and climate change issues.
Stefen Edman was the policy advisor to former Prime Minister Göran Persson. He helped to draft the policy that Sweden will reduce oil consumption by 70% over the next 30 years and in the end to achieve oil free country. Sweden is actively implementing such policies now which sees the effect already but in transport sector it is still difficult because Sweden has 4.3 million personal cars, almost every two person has a car.
Being asked about the dilemma that America as the largest emitter in per capita in the world refused to sign the Kyoto Protocol in fulfilling its responsibility of reducing greenhouse gas emission by saying that China must shoulder more responsibilities, then America will take their responsibility, Edman said "You could not reach an agreement unless you have a just agreement. China's per capita emission is just 3 tons while that of the US is 20 tons. Thus America should take bigger responsibility."
Edman said that in the thick forest, if you look at lives under your foot, you will find 120 thousand small animals, 5 billion bacteria and many other things. It is these animals and bacteria that form a web of life and human being must rely on them.
"If these tiny animals or bacteria disappear, we will have no food. Thus we must love our earth." said Edman. "We must change the lifestyle of our middle class otherwise we will eat up the achievement made by the new technology. We must have a healthy lifestyle, careful consumption based on non material mechanism. We can develop more in culture and education.
Edman also wrote several books including ‘The Earth has got a fever.'
By Xuefei Chen Axelsson, People's Daily Online correspondent in Stockholm.
Ground control: Taikonauts in sound physical conditions
The three taikonauts on the Shenzhou-7 spacecraft are in sound physical conditions and ready for the planned spacewalk, the Beijing ground control center announced on Saturday.
Their body temperatures and blood pressures are normal and there were no report of malaises, the Beijing Aerospace Control Center announced on Saturday noon.
The three taikonauts assisted each other in the medical check, which is the third and final check before the spacewalk, scheduled at 4:30 p.m. on Saturday.
Two crew members have entered the orbital module to test the functions of the control panels and charge the EVA space suit.
The Shenzhou-7 spacecraft took off from Jiuquan at 9:10 p.m. on Thursday, and is scheduled to land on the Inner Mongolia steppe onSunday.
Source: Xinhua
Their body temperatures and blood pressures are normal and there were no report of malaises, the Beijing Aerospace Control Center announced on Saturday noon.
The three taikonauts assisted each other in the medical check, which is the third and final check before the spacewalk, scheduled at 4:30 p.m. on Saturday.
Two crew members have entered the orbital module to test the functions of the control panels and charge the EVA space suit.
The Shenzhou-7 spacecraft took off from Jiuquan at 9:10 p.m. on Thursday, and is scheduled to land on the Inner Mongolia steppe onSunday.
Source: Xinhua
Chinese taikonauts prepare for spacewalk in orbital module
Two Chinese taikonauts have moved from re-entry module of Shenzhou-7 spacecraft to its orbital module, starting preparations for China's first space walk.
Two crew members are testing the functions of the control panels and charging the EVA space suit.
After re-entry module hatch to be closed behind them, the taikonauts will put on extravehicular activity space suits.
The two space suits, one 4-million-U.S. dollar China-made Feitian EVA suit and one Russia-imported Orlan suit, were assembled and tested on Friday.
The three taikonauts on the Shenzhou-7 spacecraft are in sound physical conditions, the Beijing Aerospace Control Center announced on Saturday noon. Their body temperatures and blood pressures are normal and there were no report of malaises, it said.
The taikonauts, headed by Zhai Zhigang, assisted each other in the medical check, which is the third and final check before the space walk, scheduled at 4:30 p.m. on Saturday.
The orbital module will be depressurized before one taikonaut opened the hatch and enter the outer space.
The planned space walk is expected to last for 30 minutes, during which the spacewalker will walk along a preset route and another taikonaut will stay in the orbital module for technical assistance. The third remains in the re-entry module.
Wang Zhaoyao, spokesperson with the manned space program, said the exact duration of the space walk, which will be live broadcasted, might be adjusted according to the physical condition of the taikonaut.
Once successful, China will become the third to master the EVA technology following the United States and Russia.
Besides spacewalking, the taikonaut will fetch a test sample placed on the exterior surface of the orbital module, according to Wang.
The Shenzhou-7 spacecraft took off from Jiuquan at 9:10 p.m. on Thursday, and is scheduled to land on the Inner Mongolia steppe on Sunday.
Source: Xinhua
Two crew members are testing the functions of the control panels and charging the EVA space suit.
After re-entry module hatch to be closed behind them, the taikonauts will put on extravehicular activity space suits.
The two space suits, one 4-million-U.S. dollar China-made Feitian EVA suit and one Russia-imported Orlan suit, were assembled and tested on Friday.
The three taikonauts on the Shenzhou-7 spacecraft are in sound physical conditions, the Beijing Aerospace Control Center announced on Saturday noon. Their body temperatures and blood pressures are normal and there were no report of malaises, it said.
The taikonauts, headed by Zhai Zhigang, assisted each other in the medical check, which is the third and final check before the space walk, scheduled at 4:30 p.m. on Saturday.
The orbital module will be depressurized before one taikonaut opened the hatch and enter the outer space.
The planned space walk is expected to last for 30 minutes, during which the spacewalker will walk along a preset route and another taikonaut will stay in the orbital module for technical assistance. The third remains in the re-entry module.
Wang Zhaoyao, spokesperson with the manned space program, said the exact duration of the space walk, which will be live broadcasted, might be adjusted according to the physical condition of the taikonaut.
Once successful, China will become the third to master the EVA technology following the United States and Russia.
Besides spacewalking, the taikonaut will fetch a test sample placed on the exterior surface of the orbital module, according to Wang.
The Shenzhou-7 spacecraft took off from Jiuquan at 9:10 p.m. on Thursday, and is scheduled to land on the Inner Mongolia steppe on Sunday.
Source: Xinhua
Official: Taikonaut Zhai Zhigang to perform China's first spacewalk
The Shenzhou-7 mission leader Zhai Zhigang has been confirmed to perform a spacewalk, the mission headquarters announced on Saturday afternoon.
Zhai, who celebrates his 42nd birthday next month, is scheduled to move out the orbiter around 4:30 p.m. on Saturday. Crew member Liu Boming will aid him in the orbital module. Another taikonaut Jing Haipeng stays in the re-entry module.
The square-faced Zhai was born in a poor family in Longjiang County of northeast China's Heilongjiang province. His mother sold roasted sunflower seeds to support him and five siblings to school. His elder brother Zhai Zhiqiang described him as "filial and mature for his age" since he was young.
Zhai started training as an astronaut about ten years ago. He made the final list of candidates for the Shenzhou-5, China's first manned space mission in 2003, and the Shenzhou-6 in 2005, but didn't get to fly in both missions.
The father of a teenage boy likes calligraphy and ballroom dancing, and plays video games with his son in the spare time.
Source: Xinhua
Zhai, who celebrates his 42nd birthday next month, is scheduled to move out the orbiter around 4:30 p.m. on Saturday. Crew member Liu Boming will aid him in the orbital module. Another taikonaut Jing Haipeng stays in the re-entry module.
The square-faced Zhai was born in a poor family in Longjiang County of northeast China's Heilongjiang province. His mother sold roasted sunflower seeds to support him and five siblings to school. His elder brother Zhai Zhiqiang described him as "filial and mature for his age" since he was young.
Zhai started training as an astronaut about ten years ago. He made the final list of candidates for the Shenzhou-5, China's first manned space mission in 2003, and the Shenzhou-6 in 2005, but didn't get to fly in both missions.
The father of a teenage boy likes calligraphy and ballroom dancing, and plays video games with his son in the spare time.
Source: Xinhua
President Hu comes to Bejiing control center to watch China's first spacewalk
Chinese President Hu Jintao has come to the Beijing Aerospace Control Center to watch the country's first spacewalk scheduled to begin on 4:30 pm Saturday.
Source: Xinhua
Source: Xinhua
Chinese taikonaut debuts spacewalk
Chinese taikonaut Zhai Zhigang slipped out of the orbital module of Shenzhou-7 Saturday afternoon, starting China's first spacewalk or extravehicular activity in the outer space.
Donning a 4-million-U.S.dollar homemade Feitian space suit, Zhai waved to the camera mounted on the service module after pulling himself out of the capsule in a head-out-first position at 4:43 p.m. , video monitor at the Beijing Aerospace Control Center showed.
"Shenzhou-7 is now outside the spacecraft. I feel well. I am here greeting the Chinese people and people of the whole world," the 42-year-old taikonaut reported to the ground control in Beijing
The video grab taken on Sept. 27, 2008 in Beijing, China, shows Chinese taikonaut Zhai Zhigang is outside the orbital module. .
Minutes after Zhai was outside the capsule, teammate Liu Boming emerged from the orbital module hatch and handed Zhai a Chinese national flag. Zhai waved the flag to the camera.
Video monitor at the ground control showed Zhai then slowly moved towards a test sample of solid lubricant placed outside the orbital module. He took the sample and handed it over to Liu.
The video grab taken on Sept. 27, 2008 in Beijing, China, shows Chinese taikonaut Zhai Zhigang waves after opening the door of the orbital module. to Liu.
After the handover, Zhai, who dreamed of flying into space when he was an impoverished teenager, started the core part of the space adventure, spacewalk.
The taikonaut, tethered to the spacecraft with two safety wires and a long electric "cord" providing oxygen and communications, moved slowly along a set of handrails around the orbital module.
Zhai "walked step by step" by shifting the wire hooks connecting him and the spacecraft.
The Shenzhou-7 spacecraft took off from northwest China's Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center at 9:10 p.m. on Thursday, and is scheduled to land on the Inner Mongolia steppe on Sunday.
Source: Xinhua
Donning a 4-million-U.S.dollar homemade Feitian space suit, Zhai waved to the camera mounted on the service module after pulling himself out of the capsule in a head-out-first position at 4:43 p.m. , video monitor at the Beijing Aerospace Control Center showed.
"Shenzhou-7 is now outside the spacecraft. I feel well. I am here greeting the Chinese people and people of the whole world," the 42-year-old taikonaut reported to the ground control in Beijing
The video grab taken on Sept. 27, 2008 in Beijing, China, shows Chinese taikonaut Zhai Zhigang is outside the orbital module. .
Minutes after Zhai was outside the capsule, teammate Liu Boming emerged from the orbital module hatch and handed Zhai a Chinese national flag. Zhai waved the flag to the camera.
Video monitor at the ground control showed Zhai then slowly moved towards a test sample of solid lubricant placed outside the orbital module. He took the sample and handed it over to Liu.
The video grab taken on Sept. 27, 2008 in Beijing, China, shows Chinese taikonaut Zhai Zhigang waves after opening the door of the orbital module. to Liu.
After the handover, Zhai, who dreamed of flying into space when he was an impoverished teenager, started the core part of the space adventure, spacewalk.
The taikonaut, tethered to the spacecraft with two safety wires and a long electric "cord" providing oxygen and communications, moved slowly along a set of handrails around the orbital module.
Zhai "walked step by step" by shifting the wire hooks connecting him and the spacecraft.
The Shenzhou-7 spacecraft took off from northwest China's Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center at 9:10 p.m. on Thursday, and is scheduled to land on the Inner Mongolia steppe on Sunday.
Source: Xinhua
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