Chinese
astronaut took "electronic secretary" to space
BEIJING, Oct. 19 (Xinhuanet)
-- A set of instruments, known as the "electronic
secretary", in China's first manned spacecraft
provided detailed data and spoken instructions
for the country's first astronaut in space.
Experts with the China Aerospace
Science and Technology Corp, manufacturer
of the spacecraft, described the system, which
included three display panels, six meters,
a computer system and a group of buttons.
Yang Liwei, China's first
astronaut, returned to the Earth safe and
sound on Oct. 16 after orbiting the planet
14 times in a Chinese-made spacecraft.
The electronic assistant
provided him with data coming from inside
and outside the capsule and alert messages
in Chinese characters and voice instructions.
Graphics like the world
map and the position of the spacecraft were
available on the display panel at the push
of a button.
The data included the altitude,
speed, flight time, temperature and humidity
and status of various systems inside the capsule
as well as the physical condition on the astronaut.
The electronic device would
alert the astronaut in both Chinese characters
and short, clear and artificial mezzo-soprano
voice instructions if data were not up to
preset standards.
A stand-by electronic assistant
was installed in the capsule, including a
display panel and a computer system, said
the experts.
A video monitor system in
the capsule was also capable of providing
much of the data if the two computer systems
failed.
