A taikonaut will take the first-ever step of the Chinese nation in space on Friday when he floats out of the Shenzhou-7 spacecraft.

"We have confidence, determination and ability to make the nation's first step in outerspace," said Jing Haipeng, one of the three taikonauts for the third manned mission of China, at a press conference on Wednesday.

Heroes walk out

China will launch the spacecraft Shenzhou-7 at Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest Gansu Province on Thursday.

The spacecraft, carrying taikonauts Zhai Zhigang, Liu Boming and Jing Haipeng, all aged 42, was to blast off between 9:07 PM to 10:27 PM (Beijing Time) on Thursday, according to Wang Zhaoyao, spokesperson with the manned space program.

One of the major tasks of the mission would be extravehicular activity (EVA), the first of its kind attempted by Chinese astronauts, said Wang, also deputy director of China's manned space program office.

The success of the task will mark a remarkable step in space exploration for China, whose long-term target is to eventually setup a space station.

"One taikonaut will get out of the cabin and take back the test samples loaded outside the module," Wang said.

The trio taikonauts met the press Wednesday afternoon at the launch center, a day before their flight.

"The Shenzhou-7 mission marks a historic breakthrough in China's manned space program. It is a great honor for all three of us to fly the mission, and we are fully prepared for the challenge," Zhai Zhigang told the press conference.

According to Liu Boming, only one taikonaut will perform the space walk assisted by another in the orbit module. The rest one will remain in the re-entry module during the whole process of the space walk.

Liu said 10 years of working, studying and training together has contributed to the smooth cooperation among the trio.

"We will support and cooperate with each other during the mission to make sure it ends with a success," he said.

The trio were chosen from the first group of 14 Chinese astronauts selected in 1998 based on their physical and psychological conditions as well as their technical skills, according to Zhang Jianqi, deputy chief commander of the Shenzhou-7 mission.

"All the 14 taikonauts were graded on a daily basis on every single movement during their training," said Zhang.

The press conference did not reveal which two of the three-man crew would carry out the country's first extravehicular activities.

Big leap

Compared with the previous two manned space missions, the Shenzhou-7 faced unprecedented technical difficulties, said spokesman Wang.

"EVA is a big leap for the manned space program," he said. China had made a series of technical breakthroughs, including the research and development of an EVA suit and an airlock module.

Chen Shanguang, commander-in-chief of the astronaut system, told Xinhua that the China-made EVA spacesuit costs 30 million yuan (about US$4.4 million) and can be worn by astronauts of 160 cm to 180 cm high.

The most complicated, advanced and expensive suit in the world, the EVA spacesuit provides a pressurized atmosphere, oxygen and temperature control for the astronauts. It also protects astronauts from radiation, micrometeoroids and other harmful particles in space. It also allows astronauts to communicate with others.

Chen said China spent less than four years in developing the EVA spacesuit and its design and assembling were done by Chinese scientists independently.

During the mission, taikonauts would need to assemble and test the EVA suits, depressurize and repressurize the cabin, exit and re-enter the orbital module.

"The process of extravehicular activities cannot be simulated completely on the ground and some of the newly developed products are to be tested in flight for the first time," Wang said.

"The capability and skills of the taikonauts and the quality of their operations directly determine the result of the mission," he said.

To ensure full-time monitoring during the EVA stage, China has added more ground monitoring stations and mobilized nine tracking ships and 30 planes. "The number of systems involved in the mission is unprecedented," Wang said.

International cooperation was an inevitable trend in manned space flights, which were large-scale projects with complex technologies and huge investment, Chen said.

China worked together with France and Belgium in several medical programs during the Shenzhou-6 space mission in 2005. It has set up four monitor stations abroad for the country's third manned spacecraft Shenzhou-7.

During the Shenzhou-6 space mission, joint research with Belgian space medical experts showed Chinese astronauts performed better than foreign astronauts in neural accommodation and staminain erect posture, said Li Yongzhi, deputy chief designer of the astronaut system.

Good sleep for dream

Less than a day before the launch of the Shenzhou-7 spaceship, Liu Boming said he couldn't wait to find out what a "real" loss of gravity is like.

"I will share with you when I come back," he told reporters, brimming with a smile.

Wearing blue uniforms and taking turns to answer questions behind a window pane, the trio astronauts at the press conference exuded confidence and poise at a challenging but historic mission ahead.

"As astronauts, our value lies in that we explore the space on behalf of the mankind, and it's something we have to do as a team," Liu said.

"The taikonauts have made every preparation for the mission. What they need most tonight is a good sleep," said Huang Weifen, deputy chief designer of the astronaut system under China's manned space program.

(Xinhua News Agency September 25, 2008)