Chinese Taikonauts to wear Russian, indigenous space suits in space walk
24/9/2008 17:35
China's Shenzhou-7 astronauts will wear the Orlan space suits provided by
a Russian supplier and also the indigenous Feitian suit during the country's
first ever space walk, said Wang Zhaoyao, spokesman with China's manned space
program today.
Two astronauts who are scheduled to perform the extravehicular
activities (EVA)will each wear the Orlan and the Fetian suit, and Russian
experts will provide technical support for the process, he told a news
conference at the launch center.
According to a contract signed in April,
2004, a Russia company provides three Orlan suits, two low-pressure training
suits, four suits for underwater training, and four sets of docking systems in
the craft. The Chinese side is responsible for providing power and
communications equipment for some of the EVA suits.
The contract has been
implemented smoothly, Wang said.
China has cooperated well with Russia, one
of the pioneering countries in space exploration, in mutually-beneficial
cooperation and exchanges, the spokesman said.
Wang took the occasion to
thank the Russian partners for their assistance.
"The active collaboration of
the two countries in areas like astronauts training and the development of
spacecraft have boosted the advancement of China's manned space industry," he
said.
"Such cooperation is in the interests of both countries," he said, "and
the experience of successful collaboration in Shenzhou-7 spaceflight will create
positive conditions for future bilateral cooperation."
The Shenzhou-7
spacecraft, China's third manned space voyager, will be launched tomorrow at the
Jiuquan satellite launch center in the northwest Gansu province.
Xinhua
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