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Xinhua News Agency:

The achievement of targets in spacelab phase marks China’s entrance into the era of space station operation. What preparations are Chinese astronauts making for the new era? What experimental payloads will be carried in the space station? What space experiments will be conducted? Thank you.

Wang Zhaoyao:

Chinese astronauts, the core of our manned spaceflight program, are preparing themselves to meet the higher requirements of the space station era. First, they will have to stay in space for a long time. The longest duration until now has been one month. In future, it will be extended to three or six months, perhaps even longer. They have to live, work, continue training and conduct experiments there.

Second, their “technical skills” need to be improved. Astronauts have so far conducted most of the space experiments inside the spacecraft; however, when building the space station, they will have to do a lot of work outside, which is a huge challenge.

Third, we need to ensure we have enough astronauts. We have recruited two groups, but some of them will retire from active service at a certain age. So, we need to select and nurture new astronauts, equipping them with the abilities to construct and operate space stations.

Zhao Guangheng:

I would like to add something about space science and application planning.

We will conduct large-scale space scientific researches and applications on over 30 subjects in eight fields, namely space life science and biotechnology, microgravity fluid dynamics and combustion science, space materials science, basic physics in microgravity, space astronomy and astrophysics, space environment and space physics, space earth science and applications, and space applied new technology testing. We are stepping up our efforts to establish multidisciplinary experiment platforms and publicly-supported experimental platforms. We are working to be in the vanguard of space science and make a number of scientific achievements with global influence, thus ensuring great strides are made in China’s space science endeavor.

Wang Zhaoyao:

The applied experiment payloads of our manned space flight program since Shenzhou 2 weigh only one ton or so. However, now we have three capsules in the space station, which can load over ten tons for the first time, and they will be upgraded during operation. So, we have abundant space experiment and space science payloads for a large number of projects.

Xi Yanchun:

Thank all the spokespersons for their responses today. We must also thank all the aerospace science and technology workers for their hard work. Thank you all. That concludes today’s press conference.

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