Face to face with "Shenzhou 12" astronauts

On June 17, Shenzhou 12 manned spacecraft launched and lifted off at the manned space launch site of Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, and successfully entered the near earth orbit. After three astronauts docked in the space station and core cabin in China, they successfully entered the core cabin, and became the first group of astronauts to enter the core cabin of the space station.

This is the first manned flight of the manned space engineering space station mission in China, and it is also the Chinese astronauts entering space again after five years' departure. Before the March, three "shen12" astronauts Nie Haisheng, Liu Boming and tanghongbo accepted a special interview with reporters in the newspaper.

What is the difference between this mission and the past?

The work is large, the space stays for 3 months, the time of the cabin exit is long and the task is heavy, and the one time out of the cabin is about 6 hours

Reporter: what should astronauts do in the mission of "shen12"? What's different from manned flight?

Nie Haisheng: the mission of the space station is the third step of the "three-step" of the manned space project in China. Shenzhou 12 mission is the first manned flight in the construction stage of the space station, which has its own characteristics.

First, the task workload is very large. For example, after we enter the core cabin, we should establish an environment suitable for people's life and living, and then we will go outside the cabin for installation and maintenance. Unlike Shenzhou 7, Shenzhou 12 has a long time and heavy task, and it can be left for about 6 hours at a time. For the first time, the cooperation between human and the outer cabin manipulator will be more complicated and difficult than expected.

Second, the mission has been on orbit for three months, which puts forward higher requirements for life and health. It is necessary to strengthen health maintenance and life ability training to find out how to better adapt to space work and life.

Third, compared with the space laboratory, the space station is a larger scientific platform, and we have to do more space experiments and technical tests and have a shorter time.

Liu Boming: the mission of shen12 is different from Shenqi“ Shenqi "out of the cabin is mainly to verify the availability of the space service out of the cabin, return to the cabin, and the relatively simple operation outside the cabin“ Shen12 mission plan is to carry out two out of the cabin tasks, each operation for several hours, which requires the astronauts to have strong physical strength and strong and stable psychological quality.

Reporter: what are the difficulties that can be expected?

Liu: the first difficulty is fast rendezvous and docking. We have the ability to rapidly rendezvous and docking spacecraft. After Shenzhou 12 spacecraft was fast rendezvous and docking, we entered the core cabin of the station, which tested the astronauts' body adaptability in space. At the same time, we should dismantle the cover plate, take the package back to the place, establish the living and working environment and maintain the normal operation of the life support system.

Then, in order to prepare for the first time out of the cabin, we need to prepare in advance. Two consecutive outbound missions have a short interval. During the process of exit, the first cooperation between human and manipulator will be carried out. The manipulator only swings in a large range, carrying astronauts near the outside operating point. The precise operation is carried out at the off cabin operation point. One person carries limited tools and is difficult to operate. It is possible to need another astronaut to cooperate with them, and the two persons will work together to complete the task at the operation point. Therefore, it not only tests the reliability, safety and flexibility of the manipulator operation, whether it will collide with the bulkhead, etc., but also tests the cooperation ability of the astronauts outside the cabin.

These are the first time for us. We have done a lot of preparation work on the ground, and cooperated with the drill. In the actual execution process, it is impossible to predict whether it can be so smooth. We practice hard and skillfully on the ground, and strictly follow the manual when we are in space. We should give full play to the subjective initiative of astronauts when operating on site.

What is the three month space life like?

The tablet with you can surf the Internet and cut hair in weightless environments

Reporter: people are very eager for space life. I heard that this task can call at any time?

Nie Haisheng: we have the ability to call at any time between heaven and earth, but we don't have to call at any time. In relatively free time, we will communicate with the ground, including greeting our family. The tablet we bring can be connected to the Internet and WiFi when we leave the cabin. Of course, it is the LAN inside the cabin of the space station.

Reporter: how to cut hair after staying in space for 3 months?

Nie Haisheng: my "professional barber" is my partner. We practiced on the ground many times and helped each other cut our hair. Of course, hair will be scattered in space weightlessness, when hair is different from the ground. We put a vacuum cleaner on the hairdresser to suck in the hair we cut.

Reporter: I heard that astronauts can bring some personal goods with them. Is that the case?

Tanghongbo: I brought some. My child is now in junior high school. He is very humorous and optimistic, and it is my pride. I recorded many videos of my love and son's daily life, and after working I would review these family lives and relax.

What hard training have been carried out?

Every underwater training should be held for 6 hours. After the training in the sink, it takes a lot of effort to take chopsticks

Reporter: such a heavy task requires extraordinary training preparation.

Nie Haisheng: Yes! In order to complete this task, we have strengthened a lot of different training on the ground, including one-on-one training, low pressure cabin training, tank training, etc. we can successfully complete the task only with the unswerving faith, perseverance, exquisite and excellent skills and strong and stable psychology.

Liu: the training intensity in all aspects is increased, and the training risk of low pressure cabin is the highest because it is a vacuum environment. We have conducted several training in the low pressure cabin to test our psychological endurance, and whether the ability of response and error correction in this special environment can be 100% correct every time.

The hardest and the most tired is training in the sink. As we all know, to go out of the capsule and go out of the capsule, we must wear the outer space suit. Therefore, we must simulate the weightlessness environment in the water tank and train in the underwater training clothes equivalent to the outer space suits“ The operation outside the capsule of shen12 "mission is long. We basically train underwater for 6 hours. In the underwater high-intensity training, we often rely on faith and perseverance.

Reporter: it is said that after every training in the sink, it is hard to take chopsticks. What good way to adapt?

Nie Haisheng: for the training of water tank, we first strengthen physical training, and then strengthen the upper limb strength. Third, with the increasing number of underwater training, the cardiorespiratory function and upper limb strength are the process of exercise, and we will adapt to it if we persist.

Tanghongbo: sink training is a must training project for the "shen12" mission. I can overcome physical challenges in tank training, but I feel very depressed in such a small space as the space suit outside the cabin. I think it out as soon as I enter, and I am very upset, and I have a time when I even have trouble sleeping and eating. But in the space station mission, it is necessary to wear the space suit outside the cabin. Later, I found that it would be better to lower the temperature of the outer space suit. Then combine the psychological adjustment methods that I learned to calm down. Now, I feel very comfortable in my off-board space suit and I don't feel sick for hours.

Reporter: the departure activities will become normal at the space station, so it is also the focus of training.

Tanghongbo: one of our training priorities is undoubtedly out of the cabin. The whole procedure of cabin exit is very complex, and the professional knowledge and operation skills are very complicated and the information is huge. Everyone is concerned about the moment when the cabin is out, in fact, astronauts must prepare for many days before leaving the cabin, and the day when they leave the cabin, they must be ready for several hours before opening the hatch to perform the mission of exit.

Liu: for the activities of out of the cabin, the ground training intensity is very strong, because some special circumstances may occur in the cabin, and the ground training content cannot fully predict the situation when the mission is performed in the sky. But we have many means now, such as when astronauts perform tasks on orbit in special situations, the ground team will provide quick assistance solutions for the first time, and provide strong technical support at any time. For us, what we need to improve is the reserve of body adaptability and energy. On the day of departure, preparations will be started at 6:00 in the morning. It will work and return to the cabin for a long time, which will consume a lot of physical strength.

I am looking forward to standing at the end of the arm, facing the whole universe, with the arm swing, there will be a sense of flying.

Reporter: what effect is the closed life training of simulating space life?

Tanghongbo: it is mainly to test the focus of astronauts' continuous work. Some training programs are to test the emergency ability of astronauts in space environment and test and sharpen the will quality of astronauts under extreme conditions. For example, in a narrow confined space, 72 hours without sleep, it also works continuously and keeps accuracy. We have done a month of closed training on the ground, and fully simulate the overall flight procedures after entering the space station, including work, life, waste disposal, etc.

How can astronauts work together in a team?

Three astronauts have division of labor and cooperation, and are confident and full of expectation for the taskReporter: how do three astronauts divide their division of labor?

Nie Haisheng: there is a saying called "division of labor without separation of family". In the "God 12" mission, any single operation, we can all complete. Any task that requires two people to complete, we can do both in combination and in three modes. Three people work closely together to complete a work, which is a whole. This is the characteristic of manned space missions. We train together for more than a year, and we share our experiences and feelings with each other. For example, Liu and I have a space experience, knowing that there are differences between ground and sky operations, and that the operation should be more rigorous. There are also some precautions for the habits and rules of daily life in the sky.

Reporter: as a partner, you can evaluate each other.

Nie Haisheng: I and Liu Boming are the first astronauts, working together for more than 20 years. Everyone is familiar with Liu Boming. He is very clever, dedicated, and likes to use his brain. He has a thorough study of some subtle operations, and puts forward a lot of reasonable suggestions for the training and task of the team. I'm very willing to work with him to finish the task.

Tang Hongbo is the second group of astronauts, who was the backup astronaut of Shenzhou 11 mission. After strict and systematic training, he had the ability to perform the flying mission five years ago“ Shen12 "mission is the first manned mission of the space station, which requires a lot of key technical verification of the space station. He entered the group, indicating that the experts were very approbation for him. Tang Hongbo usually has strict requirements on himself, is very modest and good at learning, and has a good character. I am confident and very trusting in him.

Liu: Nie Haisheng has carried out two flying missions, and has experienced many days of flight. He has conducted rendezvous and docking on the mission of Shenshi, and has rich experience. He is the most suitable person for the task chief.

I have been on the Shenqi mission, confident of the mission, and have been preparing for the space station missions for years. We have division of labor and we will cooperate closely.

Tanghongbo is very hard training, reliable and reliable. His earnest strength and willing to suffer spirit deserve our study. He is relatively young and can complement us in electronic information, network and other operations. We have a great trust in him.

Tanghongbo: This is my first flight. It is a great honor to fly with Nie Haisheng and Liu Boming. They have all had flight experience. Nie Haisheng has carried out the missions of "shenliu" and "Shenshi". Liu Boming has carried out the mission of "Shenqi". In the preparation of the "God 12" mission, they are very rigorous, meticulous and serious. I want to learn their calm, firm, decisive and calm. Especially they are flying many times, many backups, and have been training and preparing for the "God 12" flight. This is the one heart only for flying, life only for flying sky, this spirit is worth my study. I am confident and looking forward to this task.

Reporter: the first time the astronauts flying in the sky can be selected into the "shen12" crew, what is the most important factor?

Tanghongbo: the most important thing is the rigorous attitude of work. Although we have been training for ten years, many things can be done correctly. But you can't really close your eyes. To ensure that everything is done, you must be careful and brave.

What is the feeling of flying mission?

It has experienced three "8 years", from one person to more than one day, and then to the space capsule, and witnessed the continuous progress of science and technology

Reporter: Nie command chief, you have been a astronaut to carry out three flying missions, almost eight years apart, what is the difference between the three "eight years"?

Nie Haisheng: I joined the Chinese astronaut team in 1998 and carried out Shenzhou 6 mission by 2005, which is the first step of the "three-step" of China's manned space project; Eight years later, in 2013, I carried out Shenzhou 10 mission, which is the second stage of space laboratory; Eight years later, I am carrying out Shenzhou 12 mission, which is the third stage of the construction of the space station.

Every eight years is different. With the development of manned space technology in China, our tasks are increasing, the time is longer and longer, and the requirements for the comprehensive quality of astronauts are also higher and higher.

As a astronaut, my growth resonates with the development of national space industry. We have caught up with a good era in which the country has economic strength and scientific and technological capacity to develop the cause of manned space and to send us to space. I am very happy to live in such an era and contribute to the cause of manned space in our country.

As a Communist Party member, I am proud to be able to perform Shenzhou 12 at the Centennial birthday of the party. Our state is to be ready at all times, and our mission is to accomplish the task successfully. When flying over the motherland, I will wish our great party "Happy Birthday" in my heart.

Reporter: after three "8 years", what do you feel about the progress of space technology?

Nie Haisheng: it feels very deep“ Shenwu is a day for one person, and "shen6" is a multi-human and multi-day day. Shenqi is the space out of the capsule, and "God 9", "God 10" and "God 11" span space life from 12 days, 15 days to 30 days“ Why Shenxi can live in space for a month is because of the strong technology support capability behind it. Over the years, we have made great progress in the space in terms of clothing, food, living, working environment, communication conditions and security.

For example, the space we live in space is becoming more and more spacious. During Shenzhou 5 mission, the astronauts did not enter the orbital cabin. When Shenzhou No. 10 was in, there were "two rooms". Among the three astronauts, two people could sleep in the "bedroom", and one person was sleeping on the floor with a "floor"; The space station has become "three rooms, two halls", which is the change of space size.

When Fei and I were on shenliu mission, the temperature of the orbital cabin was lower and the heating of meals was relatively low. The previous food cycle was three days, and now we have seven days of a food cycle, and we can eat a lot more diverse tastes.

Before we carried water and oxygen from the ground to the stage of the space station, we would live in space for 3-6 months, and realize reuse through renewable environmental control and life protection technology. Condensate and sweat were collected and purified to be recycled water, and then treated to be purified water.

Reporter: how are the astronauts who have performed the mission of flying into space again?

Liu: in our simulator training hall, this sentence is very striking: exploring the vast universe, developing space industry and building a powerful aerospace power are our dream of space. It has always inspired me to explore and move forward.

Every task should be reset to zero, and every task should be restarted. We should keep the first enthusiasm and passion, and also maintain the steadfast style of the first meticulous operation. 13 years of hard training, 13 years of patience, 13 years of eager hope, flying again, can be said to be ecstatic, surging. It's not difficult for astronauts to keep strong because we have a scientific training method. It is difficult to keep that passion and that passion for more than ten years.

The stars are the most beautiful only when they flash in space, otherwise it is a pale rock. For our astronauts, we should thank the party and the motherland. With the strong backing of the country, we can make our own contribution to the aerospace cause of our country in catching up with this great era. It is not easy to select an excellent astronaut. The party and the people have trained us for so many years. We must complete our tasks successfully to serve our motherland. I have been fully prepared for flying again. With the tacit cooperation of the commander Nie Haisheng and my younger brother tanghongbo, I am confident in the completion of the task.

Reporter: astronauts often have to experience many years of waiting for their first flight. Can you tell me how they feel?

Tanghongbo: I entered the crew of astronauts on May 5th, 2010, and became the second group of Chinese astronauts. I always thought, so many years of training, when can I use my learned skills, to space to carry out missions? Long waiting, in fact, is more challenging than high-intensity training. But with the traction of flying dream, I have been in good condition for ten years. I believe that the next decade will be a decade of contributing its own strength to the construction of the space station.

I like the feeling of flying very much. This time my "ride" is a rocket, which will fly to a space station several hundred kilometers high. I look forward to overcoming the discomfort brought by weightlessness soon, establishing the living environment of the core cabin of the space station as soon as possible, and looking forward to the moment when we have successfully completed our mission and returned to the earth.

Nie Haisheng: we have been looking forward to the arrival of the space station era, and have been fighting for many years. After the establishment of the space station, it is our Chinese astronauts' home in space, and a number of astronauts will be welcomed. In the future, it is also possible to welcome international astronauts to join our family, and do more scientific research on this space platform, and use these achievements to benefit all mankind.