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Thirty young astronauts set off for a training camp in Beijing today (August 8) after attending a send-off ceremony at the Hong Kong Space Museum.
Officiating at the "Young Astronaut Training Camp" send-off ceremony were the Secretary for Home Affairs, Mr Tsang Tak-sing; the Deputy Director General of Publicity, Culture and Sports Department, Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Ms Zhou Shan Shan; the Chairman of the Chinese General Chamber of Commerce, Dr Choi Koon-shum; the Deputy Director (Culture) of Leisure and Cultural Services, Mr Chung Ling-hoi; the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Hong Kong Institute for Promotion of Chinese Culture, Professor Lee Cheuk-fun, and the Vice-President of the Beijing-Hong Kong Academic Exchange Centre, Mr Kwok Ming-wa.
The "Young Astronaut Training Camp" is jointly presented by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department and the China Astronaut Research and Training Center, co-organised by the Hong Kong Institute for Promotion of Chinese Culture and the Beijing-Hong Kong Academic Exchange Centre and sponsored by the Chinese General Chamber of Commerce.
It is the first official training programme of its kind organised by the China Astronaut Research and Training Center for teenage students in Hong Kong. It aims to enrich students' knowledge and experience of Chinese astronaut training, enabling them to learn more about the achievements of Chinese space technology and fostering an interest in astronomy and space science.
The recruitment exercise started in May this year. Candidates should be secondary school students aged 12 or above, between 1.4 to 1.75 metres in height and in good health. They should be independent, extrovert, confident and interested in space science. Those with proficiency in Putonghua were given priority. Candidates came from school nominations and each school could nominate no more than two students for selection. More than 280 nominees from some 150 schools were received.
After three rounds of selection which included a quiz, fitness test, communication skills and overall performance assessment, 30 students were selected to be the young astronauts, comprising 19 boys and 11 girls.
The seven-day training camp will run from August 8 to 14 in Beijing. The students will visit major space facilities including the China Academy of Space Technology, Mission Control Hall, China Astronaut Research and Training Center, the National Observatory, and Xichang Satellite Launch Center in Xichang. They will study basic space science and technology, and undergo simulated astronaut training, including Spacesuit Donning and Doffing, Space Kitchen, Psychological Training, Escape and Survival Training and Blood Redistribution Training. They will also meet Chinese astronauts, such as Yang Liwei, Fei Junlong and others. After completing the training, they will be given an examination and presented with certificates.
For details of the training camp, please visit the museum's website (hk.space.museum).
Ends/Saturday, August 8, 2009
Issued at HKT 11:57
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