Today is space with you [No. 1461]
Today is the 27th World Book Day, People's Daily invited 6 authors from different fields to share their reading and practical experiences, feel the pulse of the times with readers, and draw upward and forward spiritual strength from reading. Astronaut Wang Yaping shared the title of "Lighting up the vast starry sky with knowledge", and the following is the full text of the article.
Looking out from the porthole of the Chinese space station, the azure earth is full of life, surrounded by a deep universe, full of unknowns. In addition to the beautiful scenery that cannot be seen enough, the 3 space lectures are also vividly remembered. I sincerely hope that through the extraordinary space classroom, I will stimulate the interest of young people in advocating science and seeking knowledge and reading.
The first lesson in 2013, in just 40 minutes, opened a "science door" for children. After returning to the ground, I received many letters, which were full of childlike fun and full of curiosity. Some said, "I also want to fly into space and explore the mysteries." Some said, "Please give me the baton!" Many other children asked, "When will there be more space classes?" With these expectations, after 8 years of unremitting efforts, "Teacher Yaping" finally pursued his dream again and succeeded in climbing the "podium". During the Shenzhou 13 mission, Zhai Zhigang and Ye Guangfu, I completed two space teaching activities. Astronauts in orbit work and life scene display, microgravity environment cytology experiments, space parabolic experiments... The content is richer and the scientific equipment is more advanced.
After listening to the class, some students wrote to me and uploaded it to the Chinese space station, and I happily replied: "As long as you dare to chase dreams and dare to chase dreams, you will definitely be able to usher in the launch moment of your dreams." "This interaction reflects the call and inspiration of the space industry to the scientific literacy of young people." As science fiction writer Liu Cixin said, the best thing about "space classroom" is that it is like a paintbrush, depicting a space world different from the gravitational world of The Earth for children.
Becoming an astronaut is also a process of constant curiosity. During the selection physical examination, I met Yang Liwei while walking and asked curiously: "What is the hardest thing about being an astronaut?" He said two words: "Study." After that, I became deeply aware of the weight of these two words. In the first year of joining the team, we systematically studied more than 30 courses such as aerodynamics, astronomy, advanced mathematics, and aerospace medicine. Knowledge reserve is like building a house, to come little by little, there is no shortcut. Classes are lined up during the day, homework, preview, and review are written at night, and the lamp on the desk is never extinguished before 12 o'clock in the evening.
In addition to "hardcore" expertise, literature and reading accompany our space life well. We Shenzhou 13 astronauts read the general sequence of Barkin's "Riptide Trilogy" in a group, which was called "poetry from afar". On weekdays, in addition to work training, I also watch movies to relax, especially science fiction themes. Whenever I see the experience of astronauts on the screen, my heart resonates strongly. As you watch, you reminisce about your days in space. Stepping out of the cinema, looking up at the sky, I can't help but think of the scene of myself lying on the porthole overlooking the earth, and my heart suddenly gave birth to the love for the space industry, which was an unforgettable intoxication.
▲ Wang Yaping: Creating your own path in the rapids (Source: CCTV Readers)
Now that I have returned to the ground safely, I am still eager to fly to space again with my children's scientific dreams, complete new explorations, light up the vast starry sky with knowledge, and continue to write new glories in China and human spaceflight.