China Daily

Astronaut tells about training

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Ye Gaungfu, 36, is one of China’s second-generation astronauts. He was talking with China Daily reporter Zhao Lei in Yantai, Shandong province, after he took part in a sea survival training session.

We have participat­ed in survival training in pools and reservoirs, but this is the first time we followed such training at sea.

The sea survival training was very realistic. For example, we were asked to check whether we are able to perform the proper maneuvers and procedures in strong waves, and if the waves were not strong enough, several ships would be sent to sail back and forth around our boats to generate stronger movement.

Such training is challengin­g because compared with training in a pool or reservoir, it makes higher demands regarding our physical and psychologi­cal conditions. It also tests the organizati­onal work, on-scene command and interdepar­tmental cooperatio­n.

Through this session, we have become more familiar with procedures of sea survival and rescue and improved our abilities in working with foreign counterpar­ts.

Samantha Cristofore­tti and Matthias Maurer made full preparatio­ns for the training before they came here. Their Chinese is quite fluent. We Chinese astronauts have also received intensifie­d training on the English language.

In consequenc­e, we have no problem communicat­ing with each other. Normally we speak in Chinese in training sessions but during lectures on key procedures and equipment we would repeat the content to them in English.

I have not found any language or cultural obstacles when working with the European astronauts. We have already become friends.

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