posted 03-05-2008 04:27 PM               

Anyone any info on where they are manufactured? Anyone seen a Chinese spacesuit up close?

China recently re-hashed an old artist's conception of its first spacewalk, showing a spacesuit-clad figure emerging from the Orbital Module of Shenzhou, which will serve as an airlock.

This image, released in the state-run media, showed a different sort of spacesuit. Earlier pictures showed a spacesuit that resembled a Russian Orlan suit, but the recent one looks more like an American suit. It's difficult to know what to make of this.

posted 05-05-2008 09:10 PM            

I think the Chinese found the Sokols and Orlans to be "good enough" off-the-shelf, while Soyuz needed modifications to meet their needs.

Note that other entities have purchased Sokol suits from Zvezda (for example, the now-dormant British Qinetic and Team ReMax high-altitude balloon projects), so there is precedent.

posted 07-22-2008 12:26 PM               

China has prepared two kinds of outer spacesuits for taikonauts for the spacewalk mission. One was made using China's own technologies, and another was bought from Russia. The country will make the final choice as the space mission nears.

posted 07-25-2008 10:11 AM               

Unlike its American counterparts, the China-made suit will not have its own power system. A cord will link the astronaut with the spacecraft to provide oxygen, power and communications.

The suit for the space-walk astronaut on the Shenzhou VII mission was developed by Chinese scientists based on the Russian design, Pang said.

The astronaut who remains in the airlock will wear a Russian space suit. However, future missions will exclusively use the Chinese suits.

posted 09-24-2008 05:16 AM               

China's Shenzhou-7 astronauts will wear the Orlan space suits provided by a Russian supplier and also the indigenous Feitian suit during the country's first ever space walk, said Wang Zhaoyao, spokesman with China's manned space program on Wednesday.

Two astronauts who are scheduled to perform the extravehicular activities (EVA) will each wear the Orlan and the Fetian suit, and Russian experts will provide technical support for the process, retold a news conference at the launch center.

According to a contract signed in April, 2004, a Russia company provides three Orlan suits, two low-pressure training suits, four suits for underwater training, and four sets of docking systems in the craft. The Chinese side is responsible for providing power and communications equipment for some of the EVA suits.

posted 09-25-2008 10:16 AM               

Another photo from the same session (credit: Xinhua):

And here is a CNSA graphic of the Feitian spacesuit:

posted 09-26-2008 02:50 PM               

Also, it will be interesting to see if they try bring both these two test EVA suits back to Earth in the descent capsule, as there might be enough spare room. Otherwise, they are going to have to leave them inside the orbital module, where they will remain for two years plus in orbit until the next mission.

posted 09-27-2008 12:00 PM               

So unlike the launch and entry suits the Chinese use which seem to be based very closely on Sokol, these suits seem to be unique. Plus I see something that almost looks like a SAFER unit strapped to the bottom.

posted 09-27-2008 12:21 PM               

The Feitian appears to use a display and control module (DCM) similar to that of the Orlan MK, which has an LCD display. Its computer is at the base of the portable life support system backpack.