How Do Astronauts Prepare for Space Travel?航天员升空前要经过哪些训练？

The year 2024 marks the 21st anniversary of China’s first manned space mission， with Yang Liwei becoming the first Chinese astronaut to go to space. Since then， 22 Chinese astronauts have reached for the stars. Experts revealed how tough the training is before astronauts can soar to space.

The human body is not designed for space life. Astronauts are confronted with multiple challenges on a space mission. The changes in gravity can have an impact on their bodies. The sensation of isolation living in a small confined spacecraft for months can impair their mental health. Emergencies during missions challenge their knowledge and ability to solve problems under huge pressure. So it’s no wonder that astronauts have to go through a tough training program and meet extremely high standards.

2024年是中国首次载人航天飞行任务成功21周年。2003年，杨利伟成为中国第一位成功“飞天”的航天员。自那时起，中国已经有22位航天员飞向太空。专家揭示了航天员在飞向太空之前的训练有多么艰苦。

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人体不是天生适合在太空生活。航天员在太空任务中要面对多种多样的挑战。重力的变化会对身体产生影响。在狭小密闭的宇宙飞船里生活数月所产生的孤独感，会有损心理健康。执行任务时出现的突发状况，考验着航天员在巨大的压力下是否有足够的知识和能力来解决问题。因此，毫无疑问，航天员得经过艰苦的训练达到极高的标准。

“To make sure that Chinese astronauts complete their missions and return to Earth safely， eight types， including over 200 subjects of training， are set，” Huang Weifen， chief designer of the astronaut system for China’s manned space project， told CCTV. Apart from physical fitness training， it also encompasses basic scientific theories， psychological health， and mock missions.

Among the training subjects， the most tiring one is underwater training. This training is designed for astronauts to adapt to the microgravity environment in space. According to Huang， astronauts stay underwater in suits weighing over 100 kilograms for six hours at a time. Water resistance and the heavy suit make every move exhausting. “Nie Haisheng （one of the astronauts） once reported a two-kilogram loss in weight after one underwater training exercise，” said Huang.

Each astronaut receives training for at least three and a half years before having the chance to go to space.

“为了保证中国航天员能够完成他们的太空任务并且安全地返回地球，为他们设置了八大类训练，包含200多个科目。”中国载人航天工程航天员系统总设计师黄伟芬在接受CCTV采访时说。除了体能训练，还涉及基础的科学理论培训、心理健康培训和模拟太空训练。

在所有的训练科目当中，最辛苦的是水下训练。这项训练的目的是让航天员能够适应太空中的微重力环境。据黄伟芬介绍，航天员待在水下，穿着100多千克的工作服，一次要在水下待6个小时。水的阻力和衣服的重力让每个动作都变得极其费力。“曾有报道披露，聂海胜（获选执行过太空飞行任务的航天员）曾在做了一次水下训练之后瘦了两千克。”黄伟芬说。

每位航天员在有机会执行太空飞行任务之前，要接受至少三年半的训练。

Word Bank

reveal /rɪ'viːl/ v. 揭示；透露

soar /sɔː（r）/ v. 升空；升腾

be confronted with面临 （问题、任务、困难等）

isolation /'aɪsə'leɪʃn/ n. 孤独

impair /ɪm'peə（r）/ v. 损害

encompass /ɪn'kʌmpəs/ v. 包含，包括

exhausting /ɪɡ'zɔːstɪŋ/ adj. 令人筋疲力尽的