Conditions for life in Shenzhou V?are about the same as on
earth, a senior expert told Xinhua Wednesday.
The spacecraft comprises three main parts: the propulsion
module, orbital module and re-entry module. The orbital and
re-entry modules, both airtight, are where the astronaut lives and
works during his space journey.
While in space, however, he works, eats and sleeps in the
orbital module, according to Su Shuangning, a chief designer for
the astronaut system under China's space flight program. "The
onboard life support system creates an intra-module environment
about the same as on earth," the expert said.
Elaborating, he said that the astronaut system is fitted with
sub-systems for air pressure, ventilation, sterilization,
temperature and humidity. These ensure normal temperature, moisture
and air pressure, including the pressure of oxygen and carbon
dioxide, inside the two modules.
Shenzhou V?operates primarily on preset programming,
meaning that the astronaut plays a supplementary role in monitoring
the flight and in controlling and running the spaceship in the
course of the flight. His task is to observe and record the
conditions of the orbiting spaceship for reference of the ground
control center.
The astronaut relies mainly on the control center for
information. At regular intervals, he reports to the center the
conditions of the on-board systems and the flight. He also informs
the center of his own conditions -- whether he feels well, whether
he sleeps well, whether his appetite is good, as well as his
urination and bowel movement.
"In case a mal-function occurs when the spacecraft changes its
orbit, the astronaut will step in to control the flight manually,"
Su said.
While in the space vehicle, the astronaut has three meals a
day-- breakfast, lunch and supper, the recipes including canned
food, dehydrated rice and fruit, which can be re-hydrated and
heated. The so-called "space food," food consumed by astronauts in
space, produces limited residue, but is rich in calories and highly
digestible. Chinese food is available, the likes of rice cooked
with nuts, dates and other delicacies, spicy and sour shredded meat
and diced chicken.
The astronaut does not have a bed to sleep on. He has a sleeping
bag hung on the interior wall of the spacecraft, and sleeps in it
when he is free from the duty of reporting to the ground control
center. According to Hu, he will sleep twice during the space
journey, for three or four hours at a time.
While flying, the astronaut also writes the flight log, talks
with the ground center and with his doctors. "If he has time to
spare," the expert said, "he may take photos and videos of the
outer space."
(Xinhua News Agency October 15, 2003)
