by Olatunji Saliu
ABUJA, Sept. 6 (Xinhua) -- Dozens of Nigerian students felt motivated Tuesday after having a glimpse of life in outer space during a dialogue with three Chinese astronauts currently carrying out the Shenzhou-14 mission.
The taikonauts -- Liu Yang, Chen Dong, and Cai Xuzhe, who are on a six-month stay at the China Space Station -- spoke about their experience so far during the dialogue, via video link, with students from at least eight African countries, including Nigeria.
The taikonauts also fielded questions from the young Africans during the dialogue, facilitated by the Mission of China to the African Union, the China Manned Space Agency, and the African Union Commission, by responding to questions bordering on general experience, including how they eat, sleep, bathe, and stay in touch with their families during the space mission.
Nigerian participants in the dialogue converged on the Chinese Embassy in Nigeria in the capital, Abuja. Noting the taikonauts were though on official duty, 14-year-old Nigerian Leon Onunaiju asked about what they do in their spare time in space.
"The three of us have a common hobby of viewing the earth from outer space, to see and take pictures of its photogenic view," said Liu, the only female taikonaut on the mission, while partly responding to the question by Onunaiju.
The taikonauts also spend time chatting with their families and friends, as well as listening to music, and reading, among other interesting activities, during their spare time, according to Liu.
Mesmerized by Tuesday's dialogue with the taikonauts, Onunaiju, who aims to be an astronaut in the future, told Xinhua in an interview that he asked his question based on the knowledge that space is "mind-blowing."
"It is a place where, when you first see or hear about it, it is mind-blowing. I want to know more about it. [I know] it is very interesting. I'm sure things like recreation or any other thing will be far better in space," he said.
Onunaiju said the dialogue had caused him to have a stronger conviction that China and Africa can cooperate on many different levels, including space technology development in the future.
"I feel uplifted, I feel great. I almost felt like I was in the real action of being in space... For people up in space to answer you and talk to you, and also explain to you about how they feel in space and what they feel," the young Nigerian said, adding he was greatly inspired and proud to have participated in the dialogue. "And this is just a stepping stone in my career of being an astronaut or anything I want to be. So, this is really a great opportunity."
In the words of Mariam Sefiu, another participant who had aimed to become an ophthalmologist in the future, the dialogue with Shenzhou-14 taikonauts, had ignited in her a burning passion to be in space.
"I was very excited. I want to be like her. I feel very happy to have seen her in space," 15-year-old Mariam said, particularly referring to Liu, China's female taikonaut. ■
