U.S. space expert: "Spacewalk is an important step for China's space exploration"

　　当中国的航天专家正在为神七发射做最后的紧张筹备时，来自大洋彼岸的关注目光也越来越热切。

　　“太空的特殊环境对于人类而言决不是可以‘到此一游’那么轻松的。神七的发射标志着中国拥有了先进的太空技术。舱外行走的宇航服设计要求的技术十分先进。它必须轻便以利于航天员行走，同时又要提供生命支持系统，还必须厚实，能抵挡太空小星体可能造成的冲撞。”美国海军军事学院国家安全决策系主任琼·约翰逊-弗里泽日前在接受《国际先驱导报》专访时强调指出。

　　"With goals laid out for a space lab and eventual space station, the planned first spacewalk during Shenzhou-7 mission is an important step toward those eventual goals for China's space exploration," Joan Johnson-Freese, a space expert at U.S. Naval War College told Xinhua in a recent interview.

　　China has announced that the Shenzhou-7 spacecraft will lift off on Thursday night. This will be the thirdChinese manned space mission, but the first time Chinese astronauts perform a spacewalk.

　　"Spacewalking is a critical capability for the assembly of a space lab or space station, and this first spacewalk will put China one step closer (toward the goals)," said Johnson-Freese, who is a famous expert studying the Chinese space program. She envisions that when China's Long March 5 launch vehicle becomes operational, then a Chinese space station and the potential for a manned lunar mission become real.

　　Spacewalks are inherently dangerous because the environment of space is so harsh and unforgiving for humans. "So, the fact that China is planning to use its own space suit -- which must be flexible for movement, provide life support for the astronaut, and yet protect against such hazards as micrometeors -- shows significant technical achievement and confidence," She added.

　　"China is to be commended for its rapid advancements since Shenzhou-5 (in 2003)," Johnson-Freese said that she is certainly following the Shenzhou-7 mission. "It appears to me as part of an ambitious, yet incremental program for China's space exploration."

　　When asked about China's role in the international space exploration cooperation in the future, Johnson-Freese said China has certainly shown itself technical capability of playing a valuable role in a potential space partnership.

　　In a U.S. Congress hearing on Sept. 15, Johnson-Freese ever told the U.S.- China Economic and Security Review Commission about the implications of space cooperation with China.

　　After Shenzhou-5 (on Oct. 15, 2003), "enthusiastic congratulations and invitations for expanded space cooperation were sent from Europe and Russia," she said. And just on Oct. 30, 2003, China joined an increasing consortium of countries working with Europe on development of the Galileo navigation satellite system.

　　"While the agreement remains a shell and the ultimate role China will play in Galileo is unclear, it is clear that other countries are willing and in fact anxious to work with China in Space," She said at that hearing. "That has significant planning implications for U.S.."

　　However, she noted in the interview with Xinhua that space is part of a larger relationship between countries. For large-scale cooperation to be considered between the U.S. and China, "I think other requirements will need to be met".

　　For example, it would be very useful if China could share information about its program, and decision making structure, as other countries do.

　　In the meantime, "I am an advocate of both dialogue and cooperation. I hope there will be opportunities for more dialogue between the U.S. and China, reciprocity of visits and information sharing, and taking small steps toward cooperation, starting perhaps with space science and Earth science."

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