Do you know what the “suitcases” carried by the two Shenzhou-11 astronauts are used for?

Did you notice during the live broadcast ahead of the launch of the Shenzhou-11 spacecraft that the astronauts each carried a “suitcase” all the way to the launch pad at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China?

The suitcases are in fact portable ventilating devices for the heavy spacesuits worn by the astronauts, so as to ensure proper thermal conditions inside the costumes.

The machines will not be brought onto the spacecraft, as different apparatuses inside the module will conduct temperature control. #SpaceChina #Shenzhou11