38-year-old Yang Liwei, China's first astronaut who spent 21
hours in space told the Xinhua News Agency about his memorable
journey on October 16.
Reporter: Today, you've just returned to earth after
accomplishing your mission and came back to Beijing by a special
plane. How do you feel now?
Yang Liwei: I felt the same when I got off the plain as
before I took the task. I took a rest after returning to the
astronaut dorm. Later I took about 50 minutes to take body
examinations, including electrocardiogram, type-B ultrasonic
diagnosis and blood exams. The doctor said everything is ok. Before
being interviewed, I took a bowl of porridge. Generally speaking, I
feel good. Just like my expectation as before, no discomforting
feeling.
Reporter: When were you appointed the first Chinese
astronaut from the finalist? What did you think at the moment?
Yang Liwei: I got the news that I was selected the first
spaceman at the night of Oct 14 (the eve before the launch day).
Actually, we three had all well prepared for the first manned space
flight. I thought I was so lucky and, besides, I promised myself to
make every effort to complete the task. I was calm then and had no
distracting thoughts. I fell asleep at 8 pm and was woken up by the
doctor at 2 am next morning. Later on, I ate some noodles and
dumplings and read the working procedure again. I set out at 5:20
in the morning.
Reporter: What did you do when Shenzhou V was lifting off
and during the flight? How did you feel then?
Yang Liwei: When the spaceship was launching, I had a
strong feeling of high-gravity with the biggest moment reaching 5G. When the spaceship
separated from the rocket, I suddenly got a feeling of soaring to
the sky due to zero gravity, while I still lay half on the chair.
By doing so, the fixed camera could shoot my whole body and people
could see me on the screen at the Beijing Aerospace Command and
Control Center. In fact, during the flight, I for many time floated
in the cabin, for instance, when I was shooting outer space.
Besides, during the whole flight, I felt the air was very
comfortable in the cabin. The temperature is good, about 22 degree
centigrade. There were very few floaters. One hour and 37m after
the spaceship entered orbit, I took my first meal in outer space.
Then, I had two meals every seven or eight hours later, including
little moon cakes, fish bolus and many others. In a word, I was
pretty calm and in good condition during the flight. I fulfilled my
work entirely in line with the working procedure. Sleep and my
appetite were good. Moreover, I also wrote down seven of eight
papers of experience according to actual flight situations. In the
next several days, I'll sort out the minutes of the notes and give
them to my colleagues. The experience will be conducive to manned
space flights in the future.??
Reporter: As the most important phase, the successful
landing and the safe return of the astronaut are the final marks of
a successful manned space flight. How did you feel at that time?
Would you please tell me something about when you were coming back
to earth?
Yang Liwei: I felt the ship was pushed forward when it
ignited. Then, I began to come back to earth. I thought it was too
short to stay in the outer space and I cherished the time very
much. I could not help watching the beautiful earth one more
time.
When the spaceship uncovered its parachute, I felt the ship
shaking heavily. The skin of the spaceship was glowing red. But the
inside control system was still working well and there was no
temperature variation in the cabin. In addition, I got a strong
feeling of high-gravity at that time with the equipment showing 3
or 4G's load. I once received the training with the biggest load of
8G, as if there were eight persons pressing on my body. At the
moment the spaceship touched down to the ground, I felt my body was
very heavy and pressure on my chest and back as my head was
downward then. Thanks to the rigorous training of various
complicated landings that I undertook hundreds of times, I
experienced it before.
Reporter: From yesterday's unknown person to today's
sensation in the world, your life has been changed during those 21
hours. What do you think now?
Yang Liwei: I think no matter who took the task, he would
represent the first group of Chinese astronauts. In order to
fulfill China's first manned space flight, most people made
contributions in obscurity. The achievement belongs to all.
(China.org.cn translated by Li Xiao, October 20, 2003)