Space fliers rack up firsts for China

Other firsts for China
Fei and Nie are expected to perform a series of physical exercises inside the Shenzhou 6 orbital module as well as life science tests to evaluate the effects of weightlessness, Xinhua reported.

Photography and biological cell tests are also slated to be performed throughout the mission.

The science experiments are the first to require astronaut interaction and are key if China is to proceed toward future human space exploration, Chinese space officials have said.

Wang Yongzhi, who heads China’s manned space program, told Xinhua that the Shenzhou 6 experiments will explore how astronauts adapt to the spaceflight environment and return data that are vital for the development of a permanent space station.

On a tastier note, Fei and Nie have a far wider range of food available to them for this flight than Yang did on his, according to state press reports.

The People’s Daily Online and Xinhua reported that about 88 pounds (40 kilograms) of food rode into orbit aboard Shenzhou 6 to provide three meals of up to six dishes each for Fei and Nie.

While rice is a staple — it comes sealed in 5-ounce (140-gram) amounts — beef cooked in orange peels and vegetables are also on the menu, along with coffee, green tea, orange juice and other fruits, Xinhua reported.

State press accounts have also reported that the two astronauts will sleep in shifts during their multi-day mission.

Heroes of China
After Wednesday's launch, the Shenzhou 6 astronauts spoke briefly from space with family members at Beijing Aerospace Command and Control Center, state media reported.

“We are all pleased to see both of you are in good spirits,” Xinhua quoted Wang Jie, Fei’s wife, as saying. “Meanwhile, we all feel very proud of you.”

Fei reportedly thanked family members for their support and made plans to go fishing with his son Fei De, who asked how the astronaut felt in weightlessness.

“I feel fine,” Fei said, according to state media.

Nie was reportedly moved to tears while speaking with his wife, Nie Haisheng, and listened to a birthday song from his daughter Nie Tianxiang. Xinhua said the astronaut is turning 41 on this spaceflight.

Already national heroes
According to Chinese press reports, the Shenzhou 6 crew — like Shenzhou 5’s Yang Liwei — are already national heroes.

In Zaoyang, Nie’s hometown, in China’s central province of Hubei, revelers let loose 1,000 pigeons and balloons in front of the astronaut’s house, Xinhua reported.

"I was very nervous when the launching process began, but now I feel so excited and proud of my brother," Nie Daozhi, the astronaut's sister, told Xinhua. She adding that her entire family looks forward to his safe return.

This report includes information from the Xinhua news agency and other Chinese state media.

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