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For trip of a lifetime, years of hard work
By Su Qiang (China Daily)
Updated: 2005-10-13 05:52
Exciting and exotic as a space journey seems, getting up there is anything
but easy going.
Only astronauts who survive the rigorous training, rigid assessment criteria
and arduous drills can get onto a shortlist for a mission.
It takes three to four years to train an astronaut during which trainees
among other things familiarize themselves with astronomy, space technology and
participate in simulated missions.
In addition, they should be proficient in using all on-board systems and
technical equipment.
Apart from mandatory courses such as astronomy and aerodynamics, trainees are
also taught subjects as varied as advanced mathematics, English and even
philosophy.
The process to get a trainee physically up to task usually includes two
different types of training normal and special. The former involves physical
exercises or gymnastics to enhance general fitness while the latter is to train
certain muscle groups such as the chest and limbs.
This training lasts as long as the last days before the mission.
As the lift-off day approaches, training is done in a tightly-enclosed and
specifically-designed programme centre, where some activities such as smoking or
meeting friends and family are strictly prohibited.
To see how trainees react to unexpected situations, they are put through
exercises in a round, 8-metre-high cylinder spinning at a speed of 100
kilometres per hour and, at the same time, answer questions from trainers.
Equally important is psychological training since astronauts could suffer
from stress, anxiety or other such disorders due to the mentally-demanding
nature of the task.
(China Daily 10/13/2005 page3)
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