China's own space
suits are "as safe, as reliable" as Russian or American models,
Xinhua has learned from their chief designer.
According to Su Shuangning, chief designer of the astronaut
support system under China's space program, intravehicular suits
for Chinese astronauts are made of materials developed by China
independently.
"In design, ours do not differ much from space suits made in
Russia or the United States, but we have made a range of
modifications in light of Chinese astronauts' physical and other
conditions," said Su, who doubles as head of the team charged with
developing the astronaut support system.
There are two types of space suits: intravehicular and
extravehicular. The Chinese astronaut (or astronauts) will not step
outside the capsule in the first space journey, and so only the
intravehicular space suit is provided.
"The intravehicular space suit is also called the intravehicular
pressurized suit," Su explained. "It is used to protect astronauts
when accidents happen, say a leakage that causes the air pressure
inside the spacecraft to plummet."
Should that happen, he continued, the astronaut can put on the
suit and connect it to the oxygen and air supply systems aboard,
making oxygen supply available and bringing inner-suit air pressure
back to normal. "This will help the astronaut make a safe return,"
he said.
The home-produced space suit consists of three layers, according
to the expert.
The outside protective layer is made of a fabric good enough to
resist extreme temperatures and abrasion to protect inner layers.
It also functions to ensure the suit be inflated in conformity with
the preset shape for the comfort of the astronaut.
The airtight layer is made of a fabric coated with special
materials, which prevents air leakage after pressurization. The
cooling and ventilation layer diverts heat and vapor produced from
human metabolism out of the space suit.
The helmet is made of a polycarbonate material. The helmet not
only is heat- and sound-insulating, but also protects the astronaut
from harm done by possible collisions. The helmet has a ventilation
device and an anti-fogging coating on the visor.
The gloves are designed to fit the suit, with great flexibility
and warming capability, according to Su.
An astronaut usually need not wear the space suit when the
spaceship is orbiting. Su said the astronaut will put on the suit
only when there are problems with the airtight security within the
spaceship.
"Our space suit looks clumsy but an astronaut wont' find it
difficult to put it on," Su assured Xinhua.
(China Daily October 15, 2003)
