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voice_cd
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Astronauts ready for spacewalk today

The three Chinese astronauts aboard the Shenzhou VII spacecraft were in fine health on Friday, ready for the extra-vehicular activities (EVA) scheduled for Saturday, a spokesman for the space mission said.

Zhai Zhigang and Liu Boming started assembling the 120-kg EVA spacesuits since 10:20 am, Wang Zhaoyao, a spokesman for China's manned space program, told a press conference in Beijing on Friday. Xinhua reported that they finished the work in about 12 hours.

The two space suits were fixed to the module wall in parts when the spaceship was launched, to be assembled by the astronauts later.

Unpacking the suits comprises 21 steps and each step is divided into sub-steps and detailed moves.

Once the suits are assembled, the astronauts started testing and wearing them, in addition to a 100-minute rehearsal in the orbital module before the spacewalk.

"A job that people can finish in one hour on Earth usually needs two to three hours in space," Li Xiqiang, a researcher for the Shenzhou VII mission, said at a separate press briefing. But he promised the astronauts would not feel exhausted. "There's enough time for them to take a rest."
It was the first time for the two to assemble the suits in zero-gravity as it is impossible to create a real zero-gravity condition on Earth.

One of the astronauts will walk out of the orbital module at 4:30 pm on Saturday, Wang said. "Since it is the first spacewalk for China ... there are many uncertainties. We will very likely adjust the time for EVA according to the astronauts' conditions," he said.

The astronauts will make a series of difficult moves in space, Wu Bin, the expert in charge of astronaut training with the China Astronaut Research and Training Center, told Xinhua.

Zhai, the No 1 astronaut, is most likely to walk into space. Assisted by Li, who will stay on in the orbital module during the process, Zhai will take a test sample of solid lubricant from the surface of the spacecraft, which was placed there before the launch.

The astronaut, tied to the spaceship with two safety wires, is scheduled to walk along the orbital module exterior.

"Actually, it is not like walking, but floating," Wu said.

A set of handrails on the spaceship surface will help the astronaut move, he said. He must make sure that both wires are tied to the handrails before taking any step forward.

During the mission, the astronauts will depressurize and re-pressurize the cabin, as well as exit and re-enter the orbital module.

To ensure the safety of the astronaut who will do the spacewalk, the space suit is equipped with three oxygen tanks. An 8-m-long electricity wire, linking the astronaut with the spaceship, will send his physiologic data back and act as a spare safety wire.

"The EVA is expected to last 20 minutes. If the time for opening and closing the module door is factored in, it will be 30 to 40 minutes," Wang said.

The historic moment will be broadcast live.

The spaceship will aslo release a 40-kg satellite which will circle the orbiter and send back images to mission command.

Earlier on Friday, Shenzhou VII shifted from an oval orbit to a more stable circular orbit 343 km above Earth.

The spaceship atop a Long March II-F rocket lifted off at 9:10 pm on Thursday from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in Gansu province, in China's third manned space mission.

In this video grab on Friday, astronaut Jing Haipeng talks to the command and control center of Shenzhou VII. [Xinhua]

Image Attachment: 0013729e47710a47ac8d2c.jpg (2008-9-27 09:04 AM, 50.65 K)

2008-9-27 09:04 AM

exportedkiwi
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Good luck to 'em!

2008-9-27 09:51 AM

xiaokui
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Congratulation to China ,and we all wish the program can make a big success , and make a difference to society.

2008-9-27 10:40 AM

macallkang
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come on,man!

2008-9-27 10:53 AM

coconut1988
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excited

2008-9-27 11:12 AM

frankme
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things will go better than before

how cool the astronaut experence the moment they step on the space land,i deem they'll never forget that second~

2008-9-27 11:30 AM

mariame
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Wish the success of the first spacewalk for China!

2008-9-27 11:44 AM

melon1008
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QUOTE:

Originally posted by exportedkiwi at 2008-9-27 09:51
Good luck to 'em!

Good luck to them and you, too. Haven't seen you for several days. How are you, everything goes well? Have a good holiday in coming week

2008-9-27 11:47 AM

vanessa_
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i didn't see it on TV or newspaper...i have class that day...

2008-9-27 02:01 PM

afighterblue
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well done

2008-9-27 02:01 PM

#10

mariame
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Taikonauts in sound physical conditions!

BEIJING, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- 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 (BACC) 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 (extra-vehicular activities) 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.

2008-9-27 02:02 PM

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luckkystar
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congratulate china on this remarkale achievement in the astronautic field

China has just took a great step forward .This achievement will present the great developments in science and technique of China in the past years .China is getting stronger on every passing day not only in the economic field but in the science as well .This is also proved by the success of Olympic in Beijing this year.
All of us are holding confidence in the future development of our country .

2008-9-27 02:54 PM

#12

mariame
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SHENZHOU-7 ORBITAL MODULE BEING DEPRESSURIZED FOR SPACEWALK !

2008-9-27 04:17 PM

#13

mariame
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Zhai Zhigang is to perform China's first spacewalk in less than 15 minutes!

2008-9-27 04:19 PM

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budebuai
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QUOTE:

Originally posted by mariame at 2008-9-27 16:19
Zhai Zhigang is to perform China's first spacewalk in less than 15 minutes!

is it now ? oh wishing all the best out there, they all look nice, it looks comfortable

2008-9-27 04:24 PM

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mariame
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Chinese taikonaut debuts spacewalk

BEIJING, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- Chinese taikonaut Zhai Zhigang slipped out of the orbital module of Shenzhou-7 Saturday afternoon, starting China's first spacewalk or extravehicular activity (EVA) 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, video monitor at the Beijing Aerospace Control Center (BACC) 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.

Video monitor at the ground control showed Zhai slowly moved towards a test sample of solid lubricant placed outside the orbital module. He took the sample and handed it over to Liu Boming, who stayed in the orbital module and closely monitored Zhai's moves.

Image Attachment: xin_2720905271651171163067.jpg (2008-9-27 05:00 PM, 14.35 K)

2008-9-27 05:00 PM

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mariame
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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. (Xinhua Photo)

Image Attachment: xin_4620905271642296279086.jpg (2008-9-27 05:01 PM, 25.5 K)

2008-9-27 05:01 PM

#17

kevin812
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wait

2008-9-27 05:02 PM

#18

kevin812
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good news

2008-9-27 05:09 PM

#19

kevin812
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haha

2008-9-27 05:10 PM

#20

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