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The Shenzhou 13 manned spacecraft will be launched on October 16, and the flight crew will be composed of three astronauts: Zhai Zhigang, Wang Yaping and Ye Guangfu.
Xinhua News Agency reporter Zhang Yang previously interviewed astronaut Wang Yaping. What was her vision for a space station mission? What kind of promise did you make to your daughter? What are the goals and expectations for going back to space? Please follow the reporter Zhang Yang and walk into Wang Yaping's struggle story about "dream and love".
The space station mission has a wide variety of space food, and it can be done for a week without repeating the sample
Reporter: Has there been a "new dish" added to the space food for the space station mission?
Wang Yaping: The food cycle of our space station mission is one week. The variety of food is basically not the same during the week. From eating only compressed biscuits and chocolate at the beginning, to now having hundreds of foods, the diet of astronauts in space has changed a lot.
Astronauts dress more often on the space station and will be specially equipped with holiday uniforms
Reporter: Will there be strict requirements for the clothes that astronauts wear on the space station?
Wang Yaping: We will be equipped with many kinds of clothes, such as cabin work clothes, casual clothes, etc. You may not imagine that due to the long mission time of the space station, it will catch up with festivals such as the Spring Festival, and we will also specially provide holiday clothes. In my opinion, celebrating the festival on the space station is more ritualistic. In addition, due to the weightless environment in space, our various types of clothing in space will be changed according to the cycle.
The weightless environment of space makes astronauts appear on camera with their own "beautification" effect
Reporter: I saw that when you gave a space lecture on the "Shen Ten" mission, not only did you teach wonderful content, but the whole person was in a very good state. How did you do it?
Wang Yaping: We sometimes joke that space comes with its own "beauty" function. Because of the weightlessness environment we are in, it is like doing a facial "skinlift", so the state will be particularly good.
In space, some things become "small" in the mind, and some things become "very large"
Reporter: You went to space in 2013, and in your eyes, what were the magic points of space?
Wang Yaping: At the level of human body perception, the biggest difference between space and the ground is the state of weightlessness; at the same time, the visual impact of space on you is also huge. "What does space really look like?" How would it feel to see the Earth from there? "I've fantasized about this scenario many times before, but when I'm really in this situation, I can only describe it in two words: that is, "shock" - looking at the Earth from space, you will feel a kind of vitality. The earth has its unique temperament, changing expressions, mysterious colors, you will feel its magnificence and vastness.
People say that "distance produces great love," and that's true. Being in space, the world you see sublimates you — in your mind, there are many things that become "small," such as gains and losses; there are many things that become "big," such as love and concern for your family and your country.
For astronauts, the space station mission is completely new — longer flight times, updated technical status, and more difficult missions
Reporter: Compared with the "God Ten" mission, what are the differences and challenges of this space station mission?
Wang Yaping: For astronauts, the space station mission is brand new, its flight time is longer, the technical status is updated, and the mission is more difficult - especially the space station out of the capsule mission, the astronauts have to operate the robotic arm in space, carry out extravehicular maintenance and other work, which has not been done before.
Astronauts complete an underwater training for a space station mission, and the physical energy consumption is equivalent to running a "full horse"
Reporter: How intense is the training for space station missions?
Wang Yaping: Every training for a space station mission is very challenging. In the case of simulated weightless tank training, we would last four to six hours each underwater training session, with a huge amount of physical exertion. We once had a very vivid analogy that the physical exertion of each underwater training is equivalent to running a "full horse".
When training underwater, the astronaut wears a costume with a residual pressure of forty kilopas, which requires us to use part of the force to fight the costume first, and then do the action, so this is a big force consumption. I remember when I first came to the astronaut brigade, I listened to the teachers and brothers say that after each underwater training was completed, my hands would shake so much that I couldn't even hold the chopsticks steadily.
The training was hard, but I was tired and happy
Reporter: With such a strong training, I would like to know how you feel after practicing?
Wang Yaping: I will be very happy after every practice. Because in my heart, I will feel that I have practiced again, and I am one step closer to my dream.
In the eyes of our astronauts, this space station mission is imminent, so each of us is training hard. You see, the muscle block on my arm is "leveraged", and I am constantly improving myself for the space station mission.
The astronaut brigade has been around for more than 20 years, and there's a button that has never been pressed
Reporter: What other training impressed you?
Wang Yaping: Before we female astronauts participated in the selection, the centrifuge was the project that scared me the most. The roller coaster we usually ride, when the speed is very fast, the overload borne by the human body is about two G - and for our centrifuge training, the body has to bear the overload of up to 8 G.
More graphically, 8 G's is equivalent to 8 of your own weight pressed against your body. When we do training, our faces will be deformed, our chests will feel extremely oppressive and it will be difficult to breathe, and tears will involuntarily flow out, and we can't control it at all.
Reporter: During this training, is there a mechanism to make the machine stop?
Wang Yaping: Yes. We have a pause button on our left hand side. However, in the more than 20 years since the establishment of our astronaut brigade, not a single astronaut has pressed it. In my mind, this button does not exist. I think it's a belief, a will.
After the launch of the "God Five", the seeds of "becoming an astronaut" took root in the heart
Reporter: When did you start wanting to be an astronaut?
Wang Yaping: When the Shenzhou 5 spacecraft was launched in 2003, my comrades-in-arms, who were pilots at the time, witnessed this exciting moment together in front of the TV. I looked at the brilliant tail flame of the rocket, and suddenly the idea of being an astronaut came to mind: China has its own male pilots and female pilots, and now that we have our own male astronauts, when will there be female astronauts? At that moment, I quietly planted a "seed of spaceflight" in my heart.
From flying up into the sky to flying into space, I used it for ten years
Reporter: From a pilot to an astronaut flying into space, how long did it take you to realize this dream?
Wang Yaping: In 2009, I was in the flight unit, and one day I received a notice of the selection of the second batch of astronauts, and I immediately signed up. At first, the family felt that the astronauts were too dangerous and disagreed. I remember my father joking: "You can fly on the earth, how dangerous is it to run outside the earth?" "But later, my family saw that I was determined and supported my decision unconditionally."
I myself did not expect that the space dream that was rooted in my heart in 2003 would come true ten years later— in 2013, I flew into space as a crew member of the Shenzhou 10 manned spacecraft.
If I can go back to space, I will definitely bring my daughter's gift and "pick the stars" for her to come back
Reporter: The last time you went to space, you were not a mother, if you have the opportunity to go to space again, will you feel differently as a mother?
Wang Yaping: My feelings are completely different. I thought that this time I would definitely bring a gift from my daughter to me. On the main road in the courtyard, there were pictures of the 11 astronauts we had been in space, and every time my daughter walked there, she would point from a distance and say, "That's my mother!" "Because of her young age, even though my daughter doesn't yet understand what astronauts do, she will find this profession sacred and make her proud and proud."
If I could go to space again, I would say to my daughter, "Mommy is going to go to space to pick stars for you and come back, waiting for Mom!" It was her wish, and I could not renege on it.
Young people must dare to dream, dare to chase dreams, and be diligent in realizing their dreams
Reporter: You are an idol in the hearts of many young people now, what do you want to say to them?
Wang Yaping: I want to say to them that dreams are like stars in the universe – it may seem out of reach, but as long as you work hard, one day you can touch it. As young people, we must dare to dream, dare to chase dreams, and be diligent in realizing dreams.
Because of love, so persistent; because of love, so persistent
Reporter: Have you ever been afraid and afraid of some unknown situations in space?
Wang Yaping: Many people have asked me, what were you thinking at the moment when the Shenzhou 10 spacecraft was launched? Fear and fear? I would like to say that at the moment of launch, I had only six words in my mind: responsibility, mission and fulfillment of dreams.
For me, there are many important moments in my life - when I participated in the selection of astronauts without hesitation, solemnly swore an oath in the face of the five-star red flag, and wore a spacesuit to prepare for the country to go to space... At these moments, my heart is full of love for the motherland and love for the aerospace industry. Because of love, so perseverance; because of love, so persistent; because of love, let me have the courage to overcome many difficulties to get to the present.
I look forward to being able to go out to space for the motherland again
Reporter: In 2013, you already flew the "God Ten" mission, do you still look forward to going out to space again?
Wang Yaping: Being able to fly into space again is my biggest dream. In the process of chasing dreams, the development and progress of the national space industry provide us with good opportunities and platforms, and can also integrate our personal dreams into the development of the country. In the future, China's space station is the home of our Chinese in space, which is a milestone for the development of China's manned spaceflight and a landmark project for our country to build a space power. For us astronauts, I deeply appreciate the great responsibility and glorious mission, and I also feel that the burden on my shoulders is getting heavier and heavier.
Although I flew a manned space mission in 2013, I am also looking forward to going to space for my country again.
Director system: Liu Siyang
Producer: Wang Jinfu, Chen Erhou
Producers: Sun Zhiping, Li Xueyong
Producer: Fan Hua
Coordinator: Han Yan, Li Guoli, Dong Qianqi
Planning: Zhang Yang
Reporters: Zhang Yang, Yang Zhigang, Liu Chunhui, Ma Yuanchi, Zhao Shitong, Li Zhenyu, Deng Chimin, Ju Zhenhua
Editors: Li Zhenyu, Zhao Shitong, Ma Yuanchi, Mai Shuhan, Song Yuze
Vision: Ma Yuanchi, Shang Wenyi
Acknowledgements: China Astronaut Center
Produced by Xinhua News Agency Zhang yang studio
Xinhua News Agency Audio and Video Department
Xinhua News Agency Military Branch
Co-produced
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