When Jing Haipeng met the Swiss astronaut, he told a "tearful" story

Why can't Chinese astronaut Jing Haipeng cry tears of excitement? How fun is it to raise silkworms in Tiangong-2?

As a Chinese astronaut who has carried out the Shenzhou VII, Shenzhou IX and Shenzhou XI manned flight missions, Jing Haipeng was recently invited to attend the "China-Switzerland Space Science and Technology Cooperation Seminar" held simultaneously in the two countries.

Claude Nicollier, who was talking with him across the air, is the first and only astronaut from Switzerland. The two shared their "most impressive" space journeys with space scientists, college students and the public from both countries attending the conference through the Internet.

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Nicolier said frankly: "I have great respect and admiration for the progress and achievements made by China's space industry, especially in space exploration, including manned space flight."

"Currently, my fellow astronauts, including me, are preparing for or carrying out China's space station mission." Jing Haipeng exchanges the latest situation with his old friend.

Like Nikoliye, Jing Haipeng has served as a pilot. Since joining the Chinese Astronaut Corps 24 years ago, he has carried out my country's "Shenzhou VII", "Shenzhou IX" and "Shenzhou XI" manned flight missions, and achieved a series of brilliant results.

"If there had not been this great new era, there would have been no rise and take-off of the Chinese nation, no successive victories in China's manned space program, and no astronauts' three trips to space. That's why we say we should be grateful for the great new era," said Jing Haipeng.

"Like Mr. Jing Haipeng, I am also very proud to be able to perform maintenance work on the Hubble Telescope." As an astronomer, Nicolier has carried out four short-term space flight missions. He has participated in the repair and maintenance of the Hubble Telescope many times, and he feels the same as Jing Haipeng: "I am full of awe for life on Earth. The Earth is very beautiful, and of course the ecology is also very fragile. I always feel that we need to work together."

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"A lot is known about space flight, but even more is unknown. That's why astronauts explore the universe and explore outer space beyond our home planet," said Jing Haipeng during an interaction between astronauts and college students from both countries.

He recounted the memorable moments during the three flights, such as his first birthday in space, when the experts and family at the flight control command center on the ground and his colleague Chen Dong in space gave him a big surprise together. With tears in his eyes, he ate a cream cake from the European Space Agency (ESA).

Jing Haipeng elaborated, "We often joke that 'tears are pouring down', but tears can't 'flow down' in space. Why? Because of weightlessness, so tears stick to eyelids and eyeballs. I kept wiping my tears, but on Earth, they would definitely 'flow down'."

He also reviewed the close ties between the China Astronaut Research and Training Center and the European Space Agency (ESA) and the European Space Center. The Chinese space food eaten by French astronaut Thomas Pesquet was also praised as "tasty."

"I sincerely invite astronauts from all over the world, including Switzerland, to come to China's space station for a walk and a look if they have the opportunity in the future. We can carry out missions together, travel in space together, and explore the universe together." Jing Haipeng was very proud and sincere.

Nicolier answered a technical question from a student from Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics about repairing the Hubble Telescope. "I still remember the first time I touched the Hubble Telescope with my left hand. It was a very special moment." He said that the Hubble Telescope, with its high resolution, has taken high-definition photos of various celestial bodies, helping scientists to obtain many important scientific research results.

Young people should be as persistent, hardworking and self-disciplined as silkworms turning from cocoons into butterflies.

Jing Haipeng also vividly shared with college students from both countries two scientific experiments he conducted during his third flight - growing vegetables in space and raising silkworms in space.

The idea of ​​raising silkworms came from a student in Hong Kong, China. He wanted to know the difference between raising silkworms in space and on the ground, and whether silk spinning in space has a direction. The silkworms carefully raised by Jing Haipeng and his colleagues for 33 days turned the child's dream into reality.

"How long can a silkworm spin? The length of the silk spun by a silkworm can reach 1 kilometer. I feel that for a person to grow, mature and succeed in his life, he must be persistent and hardworking, just like a silkworm 'transforming from a cocoon to a butterfly'. He must have strict self-discipline, realize his dreams, surpass himself, and fly higher and higher." Jing Haipeng said.

Nikoliye gave a message to young people: "Space exploration has great potential, please chase your dreams." He reminded them to make hard efforts, equip themselves with sufficient knowledge, and of course, not to forget to enjoy life.

Source: Science and Technology Daily

◎ Science and Technology Daily reporter Fang Linlin

Editor: Zhang Qiqi

Reviewer: Zhang Shuang

Final judge: Wang Tingting