Chinese taikonauts aboard spacecraft Shenzhou VI now orbiting around the Earth for the fourth day have conducted a series of orbital and ergonomic experiments, obtaining a large quantity of data on space science.

Their lab work will be helpful for the country's future manned space missions, said an official in charge of the taikonaut system of the China Manned Space Program. One of the main tasks for the taikonauts is to conduct tests on space science in the orbital and re-entry capsules, the official said.

Over the last few days, the taikonauts made changes of space suits used for different purposes to check their performances in orbiting, as well as other ergonomic tests that are aimed at providing date and reference for improving the equipment and products related to spacecraft and taikonauts.

By shuttling between orbital and re-entry capsules and closing the door of the re-entry capsule, the astronauts were studying the mutual impacts on each other by the spacecraft and the spacemen, characteristics and laws of the movements of the taikonauts as well as their psychological tendencies and patterns of movements.

All the movements of the taikonauts and the relevant impacts will be recorded to provide important reference for revising the track of spacecraft.

The taikonauts have also conducted tests on cytology and spatial life science, for the study of impacts on human body under zero-gravity circumstances and the making of relevant countermeasures.

(Xinhua News Agency October 16, 2005)