High-Tech Underwear Assists Shenzhou 9

Source:Global Intimate Wear Author:Global Intimate Wear



Editor:Sheila

China's manned spacecraft Shenzhou 9 successfully launched at 16 June 2012 and executed a smooth automated docking with Tiangong 1 research module in the morning of 18 June. As we all known, the aerospace industry chain is the longest one in various economic sectors, from energy, steel, new materials, electronic, mechanical, communications, to textile, clothing, food processing, almost covering each areas of daily life. Its successfully launching is creditable to not only the scientific and technological workers' contribution, but also people from all walks of life's mutely support.

"What astronauts wear? What do they eat? How to sleep? If ill how to do…" a series of questions attract vast attention. This article focuses on textile elementsand gives comprehensive answers to the details of astronauts' underwear.

What do astronauts wear? High-tech cotton underwear

Astronauts wear different clothes on different occasions, even different stages of the task. In the process of blast-off or return back, they wear highly reliable pressure suit which can guarantee their safety. When they work and do some daily activities in "tiangong" lab, they change to cozy "loungewear". While sleeping, they can go into a sleeping bag embroidered auspicious clouds to change for underwear.

In the clothing production Shenzhou 9, there are some improvements in the female astronaut Liu Yang's cabin space suit . The most difficult part is to solve the problem of body-fitted coordination of female astronaut. The first concern is about the upper part of the space suit. It cannot break apart with upper body limb when pressure is applied, or the female astronaut cannot do any operation.

Another concern is the gloves. According female astronaut's hand shape which are slimmer than male's, special mould is invented to make the exclusive female-astronauts-use gloves. At this task, the change of the cabin space suit is the biggest changes of the whole space suit. On the basis of the original two general-purpose models, specifically-tailored space suit ensures female astronaut's comfort and freely movement.

"The astronaut's costume design is every thoughtful and the well-made knitting embroidery displays delicate craftsmanship." Said Li Tanqiu, the vice general designer of China's manned space engineering, "In order to make astronauts feel comfortable, the underwear is used pure cotton fabrics."

"We apply comfortable and well-fitted space underwear alongside with moisture management properties to shenzhou 9 astronauts, including Liu Yang's exclusive female astronaut suit." Xi Xiaoqin, the chief engineer of Topnew Group Co., Ltd. told the reporter.

The astronauts' socks are a more vivid evidence to reflect scientific workers' consideration. From the TV screen, careful people must discover that astronauts don't wear shoes while do activities in cabin. Thus, each pair of socks is coated with a layer of rubber coating to ensure astronauts don't feel cold when their feet touch metal.