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Report: China Steps Up Astronaut Training
By Leonard David
Senior Space Writer
posted: 08:50 am ET
28 October 2002
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CHINA'S ASTRONAUTS IN INTENSIFIED TRAINING Space officials in China are reportedly stepping-up training of astronauts for human space travel. Two or three individuals are "expected to dart out from the Earth" and become the first batch of spacemen of China. Meanwhile, a large "aerospace city" is in use to prepare astronauts for space voyages. Located in Beijing's suburban area, the complex is cited as the third largest training center dedicated to human spaceflight in the world. According to the People's Daily, citing a weekly "outlook" report, preparations for sending Chinese astronauts skyward started several years ago. In 1996, two Chinese astronauts underwent training in Moscow. Today, a group of pilots are in training for China's first human space voyage. Each person has more than 1,000 hours of flying time and is being put through rigorous physical and expertise exams. Each individual, in general, has a master's degree in a field, be it mathematics, physics, engineering, biology, etc. Every day, an astronaut candidate receives 10 hours of training at the aerospace city. The People's Daily explains that the center for the research and testing of space technology, built some six years ago, is engaged in experimentation, assembly, and testing of spaceship and large-sized spacecraft. The center consists of ten major laboratories. It has not only provided an incubator for Shenzhou-class spaceships, the center is engaged in a program of "sustainable spaceflght" as a whole. As part of the compliment of test equipment at the center, the fifth largest vacuum chamber in the world is used to flight-verify Shenzhou vehicles. In addition, one laboratory is specifically developing food items for use by future space travelers, explains the state-controlled People's Daily.
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