Conditions for life in Shenzhou V are about the same as on earth, a senior expert told Xinhua Wednesday.

The spacecraft comprises three main parts: the propulsion module, orbital module and re-entry module. The orbital and re-entry modules, both airtight, are where the astronaut lives and works during his space journey.

While in space, however, he works, eats and sleeps in the orbital module, according to Su Shuangning, a chief designer for the astronaut system under China's space flight program. "The onboard life support system creates an intra-module environment about the same as on earth," the expert said.

Elaborating, he said that the astronaut system is fitted with sub-systems for air pressure, ventilation, sterilization, temperature and humidity. These ensure normal temperature, moisture and air pressure, including the pressure of oxygen and carbon dioxide, inside the two modules.

Shenzhou V operates primarily on preset programming, meaning that the astronaut plays a supplementary role in monitoring the flight and in controlling and running the spaceship in the course of the flight. His task is to observe and record the conditions of the orbiting spaceship for reference of the ground control center.

The astronaut relies mainly on the control center for information. At regular intervals, he reports to the center the conditions of the on-board systems and the flight. He also informs the center of his own conditions -- whether he feels well, whether he sleeps well, whether his appetite is good, as well as his urination and bowel movement.

"In case a mal-function occurs when the spacecraft changes its orbit, the astronaut will step in to control the flight manually," Su said.

While in the space vehicle, the astronaut has three meals a day-- breakfast, lunch and supper, the recipes including canned food, dehydrated rice and fruit, which can be re-hydrated and heated. The so-called "space food," food consumed by astronauts in space, produces limited residue, but is rich in calories and highly digestible. Chinese food is available, the likes of rice cooked with nuts, dates and other delicacies, spicy and sour shredded meat and diced chicken.

The astronaut does not have a bed to sleep on. He has a sleeping bag hung on the interior wall of the spacecraft, and sleeps in it when he is free from the duty of reporting to the ground control center. According to Hu, he will sleep twice during the space journey, for three or four hours at a time.

While flying, the astronaut also writes the flight log, talks with the ground center and with his doctors. "If he has time to spare," the expert said, "he may take photos and videos of the outer space."

(Xinhua News Agency October 15, 2003)