Two Chinese astronauts aboard Shenzhou VI spacecraft carried out a series of experiments in the capsules Thursday, the second day of China's second manned space flight.
The crew, Fei Junlong and Nie Haisheng, moved between the orbital and re-entry capsules for three times at their 20th circle around the Earth, which is part of the planned anti-disturbance experiment.
Fei and Nie, who entered space Wednesday, have exaggerated their movements Thursday while opening and closing the internal capsule doors, changing off bulky space suits and crossing capsules.
Their movements incurred little disturbance to the spacecraft's stabilities and functions and there is no need to make any adjustment to the flight as the spacecraft is orbiting normally.
The crew also operated various other equipments in the capsules and their body functions, including the temperature and blood pressure, remained normal.
By Thursday morning, the two spacemen had already exceeded the time spent in space during China's first manned flight in 2003, when astronaut Yang Liwei stayed in space for nearly 21.5 hours.
Although everything proceeds smoothly so far, all scientific and technological staffs need to be cautious, aerospace experts said.
The mission is the first time that Chinese astronauts participated in space experiments in real sense since the launch of Shenzhou V, where Yang Liwei, China's first man in space, was strapped to his seat throughout his 14 orbits of the Earth.
(Xinhua News Agency October 13, 2005)
