China space station opens multi cabin phase
2022-07-27
(simulation image of the successful docking of the Wentian experimental module to the forward port of the Tianhe core module.) (simulation diagram of the space station assembly) (schematic diagram of the space module) (solar wing of the space module) (ignition and launch of the long march 5B remote-3 carrier rocket carrying the space module.) On July 24, the Long March 5 B yao-3 carrier rocket carrying the Wentian experimental module was ignited and launched at Wenchang space launch site. On July 25, Wentian experimental module was successfully connected to the forward port of Tianhe core module. Subsequently, the Shenzhou 14 astronauts successfully entered the sky inquiry experimental module - this is the first time that Chinese astronauts have entered the scientific experimental module in orbit. With the successful arrival of "ask the sky", the Chinese space station officially opened the "multi cabin" stage. After the successful launch of the Mengtian experimental module, the China space station will be completed in orbit. There are both fully equipped scientific laboratories and doors to mysterious space; It not only carries the cybernetic robot arm, but also undertakes the important task of "generating electricity" -- what are the abilities of the sky experiment module? The large and fully functional "bed" foot sky test cabin is composed of a work cabin, an airlock cabin and a resource cabin. With a total length of 17.9 meters, a diameter of 4.2 meters, and a takeoff weight of 23 tons, it is larger than the size of the Tianhe core module. It is the heaviest single cabin active aircraft in orbit in the world. As the second module and the first scientific experiment module of the Chinese space station, the space inquiry experiment module is mainly used to support astronauts' stay, extravehicular activities and space scientific experiments. At the same time, it can also be used as a backup of the space and core module to manage the space station. There are three sleeping areas and one health area in the working cabin. After the experimental cabin is docked with the core cabin, the number of "beds" in the Chinese space station has increased to six. At the end of the Shenzhou 14 mission, the "Shenzhou 14" and "Shenzhou 15" astronauts will rotate in orbit, and six astronauts can work and live in the module at the same time. In terms of platform functions, the Wentian experimental module and the Tianhe core module are backup to each other, and the key platform functions are the same, which can fully cover the working requirements of the space station assembly. In addition to ensuring the astronauts' long-term stay in orbit, the sky inquiry experimental module also provides a special airlock cabin and emergency refuge, making the risk of the space station's on orbit operation more controllable and the on orbit long-life operation more reliable. In terms of test load function, the Wentian experimental cabin is loaded with 8 experimental cabinets and 22 extravehicular load adapters, including scientific experimental facilities such as life ecology experimental cabinet, biotechnology experimental cabinet, scientific glove box and low-temperature storage cabinet, variable gravity scientific experimental cabinet, etc. This "Space Science Laboratory" can support the research on the growth, development, genetics, aging and other response mechanisms of various plants, animals and microorganisms under space conditions, as well as the experimental research on closed ecosystems. The new gate is safe in the "outer circle and inner circle". In previous space station missions, Chinese astronauts carried out many extravehicular activities through the node module of the Tianhe core module. The test module, which was launched this time, opened a "new door" for astronauts to enter and leave the space station - the experimental module was equipped with a new airlock. Unlike the traditional sealed cabin in the past, the airlock cabin looks like a square cabin, but in fact it is "outside and inside". The airlock is still a cylindrical space, which is also the "dressing room" for astronauts to carry out extravehicular activities. The airlock cabin is designed with a door larger than the node cabin, with a diameter of 1 meter, which is 15 cm larger than the node cabin door; The out of cabin activity space of the airlock cabin has also increased from 56 cubic meters of the node cabin to 123 cubic meters. Astronauts are not only more spacious and comfortable out of the cabin, but also can carry large equipment, and their ability to work outside the cabin is greatly improved. It is understood that the Shenzhou 14 astronaut crew will use the airlock for the first time in the future to carry out extravehicular activities. In the future, it will also become the main extravehicular passage of the Chinese space station. Once the airlock module has problems in the process of disembarkation, astronauts can still return to the module through the node module to ensure the safety and reliability of the disembarkation activities. The square shell outside the exit airlock is the external exposure test platform, which is equipped with 22 standard load interfaces, some of which are also equipped with fluid circuit temperature control. In the next 10 years, the scientific experimental load carried on the space station can be accurately "delivered" to the corresponding standard load interface position through the manipulator, and there is no need for astronauts to leave the cabin for manual operation. The size of the mechanical arm is more efficient. The space station system has the largest number of extravehicular moving parts. A large number of extravehicular facilities and equipment can better ensure extravehicular activities and provide support for more sophisticated extravehicular operations. The Wentian experimental module carries a set of small mechanical arms with a length of 5 meters and 7 degrees of freedom. Compared with the large manipulator of Tianhe core module, the "hand" of the small manipulator is smaller - about 5 meters long, the bearing capacity is 3 tons, the weight and length are about half of the boom, and the load capacity is about 1/8 of the boom. It is more exquisite in shape, flexible in movement and control, convenient to grasp small and medium-sized equipment and carry out more refined operations. For example, when astronauts do not need to leave the cabin, they can independently complete the installation, replacement and other care operations of extravehicular loads, effectively saving astronauts' on orbit workload. The two "arms" have their own emphasis and cooperate with each other. The forearm can form a 15 meter long combined arm with the forearm to carry out more extravehicular operations. If the equipment needs to be installed outside the cabin in the future, it can be ascended to the cargo airlock of Mengtian experimental cabin through the cargo spacecraft, and the installation on the load platform outside the cabin can be completed through the grasp and transfer of the combined arm. In addition, the large and small mechanical arms can also cooperate to carry out extravehicular operation tasks, complete self-maintenance work of mutual patrol and mutual inspection, and effectively improve the reliability of the mechanical arm system. It is reported that the Shenzhou 14 astronauts will use the small mechanical arm for the first time, and will also use the combination of the small arm and the large arm at the same time. The new extravehicular activities are full of attractions. In the process of getting out of the cabin, the two cloud table lamps and four high-definition cameras set outside the Wentian experimental cabin can shoot and record while lighting and chasing light. Through them, the ground TT & C personnel can pay more attention to the extravehicular activities of astronauts. The solar wing space station has a clever way to "generate electricity". The high-performance "generator" and "distributor" are equipped in the sky inquiry experimental module. The solar wing carried by it is the longest and largest flexible solar wing in China at present, breaking the record of Chinese spacecraft using solar panels in orbit. The Wentian experimental module is equipped with a pair of two degree of freedom flexible solar panels, with a wingspan of more than 55 meters after all deployment, which is larger than the size of the cabin combined with the three modules of the space station, and each solar panel has a deployment area of more than 100 square meters. Working together, the two huge solar panels can effectively collect more solar energy - the average daily power generation is more than 430 degrees, providing sufficient energy for the operation of the space station. The solar wing of the Wentian experimental module has a large area and flexibility. It is very difficult to control the rendezvous and docking with the Tianhe core module with a pair of huge "soft wings". In order to reduce the complexity of the system and the risk in orbit, the Wentian experimental module has realized several system function innovations, such as adopting the secondary deployment scheme of the solar sail, that is, after launching, it is first deployed about 1/5 of the length, and then deployed in place after docking, so as to improve controllability and ensure the success of the mission. After the on orbit construction of the space station is completed, a solar sail of the Tianhe core module will be transferred to the tail of the resource module of the sky inquiry experimental module. At that time, Tianhe core module will focus on the management of the space station, and Wentian experimental module will become a veritable "main power station". (Xinhua News Agency)
Edit：Li Jialang Responsible editor：Mu Mu
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