China’s Giant Leap in Space Exploration

LI WUZHOU

AT 10:03 am on June 29, the Shenzhou-9 spacecraft returned to Earth to land in northern Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, ending the 302-hour journey in space of the operations three astronauts, Jing Haipeng, Liu Wang and Liu Yang, Chinas first woman astronaut.

The Shenzhou-9 spacecraft was launched on June 16, and over the next two weeks achieved a series of breakthroughs in Chinas aerospace history – its first manual rendezvous and docking between a spacecraft and skylab, its first female astronaut, and a record 13 days spent in space.

At the news of the successful launch, President Hu Jintao, then paying a state visit to Denmark, immediately sent a message of congratulations. Ten days later Hu himself made a call to the astronauts. He asked about their physical conditions and whether their assignment was going well, adding, “We and your families are looking forward to your successful and safe return.” When the re-entry capsule landed on June 29, Premier Wen Jiabao watched the entire process at the Beijing Areospace Control Center (BACC), and gave a speech, praising it as “a new achievement in Chinas effort to build an innovationdriven country,” and “an important contribution to human exploration of outer space.”

Rendezvous and Docking technology Mastered

After two days of flight, the Shenzhou-9 spacecraft automated docking with the Tiangong-1 lab module, and the three astronauts entered the skylab. On June 24, the spacecraft separated with the lab, and the astronauts conducted the missions most important task – the manual docking, followed by the spacecrafts return to Earth on June 29.

Now that China has mastered both automated and manual methods of rendezvous and docking, one of the three basic technologies of manned space flight, the probability of successfully completing space missions has greatly increased.

Chinas first unmanned space docking was successfully completed last year when the Shenzhou-8 spacecraft docked with the Tiangong-1. The successful automated docking on June 18 further proved the technology. The manual docking was a great achievement for Liu Wang, who conducted the task 343 km away from Earth. “The success rate of manual docking is higher than the automated one, but more challenging for the astronauts,” commented Jiao Weixin, a professor at the School of Earth and Space Sciences, Peking University.

“The manual docking was beautifully conducted. It was very accurate and swift,” said Liu Weibo, the program manager responsible for the astronaut system. The manual docking was completed in only seven minutes, three minutes faster than the automatic docking, indicating the advantages humans have over the automated system.

Having successful mastered rendezvous and docking technology, China is now able to send personnel and material supplies to the spacecraft in orbit using both docking methods. This is the third piece in a set of three technologies of manned space flight, the other two being shuttling back and forth and extravehicular activities, that are prerequisite for the construction of a space station.

“Cozy and Warm” skylab

The Shenzhou-9 crew entered into the Tiangong-1 lab module twice and spent a total of 11 days on board, thus proving the labs ability to support life and provide the necessary working conditions as well as the control and management of the combined unit. This marked the first time the Chinese space program transported personnel and materials to a spacecraft in orbit, conducted aerospace medical experiments and tested key technology such as life support.

Besides their spacesuits, astronauts also brought special underwear, work outfits, exercise clothes and so-called“penguin suits,” designed specially for use in microgravity, said Li Tanqiu, deputy chief designer of the astronaut system department.

The Chinese astronauts rode stationary bikes onboard to exercise their lower body muscles, as the effects of weightlessness include muscle atrophy. Each astronaut conducted their own exercise regime designed for them according to their maximum heart rates.

Another particularly annoying problem that the astronauts have to deal with in microgravity is personal hygiene. Special research has been conducted to find ways to bath in space but none of the many methods that have been investigated have successfully tackled the problem. On this mission, the Shenzhou-9 crew used the low-tech method of wiping themselves down with wet tissues.

Astronauts life in space is also very dull and lacks the excitement that people might imagine. The China Astronaut Research and Training Center designed a series of entertainments to keep them occupied, including watching movies, taking photos and a treasure hunt.

As you can see, all sorts of details are needed to make sure life inside the orbiting spacelab, which was kept at a temperature of between 22 and 23 degrees Celsius and a humidity of 40 percent, is safe and comfortable for both mind and body.

“The Tiangong-1 is our home in space, warm and cozy,” Liu Yang told the press after coming out of the capsule that had finally brought her back down to solid ground.

Technological Breakthroughs

This momentous flight makes 33-yearold Air Force Major Liu Yang Chinas first female astronaut in outer space. The presence of a woman on the space mission called for special supplies, including hygiene items, and her privacy was fully considered for arrangements in space.

On June 19 the Shenzhou-9 crew received its first email from the BACC, containing pictures of landscapes, text, and a 10-second video of animals. “Compared to remote control command, email is more convenient. It is a humancentered way of communication, fully considers the requirements of astronauts and the long-term stay in space,” said Li Jian, deputy chief engineer of the BACC.“Astronauts can communicate with their families any time, receive their favorite movies and music, and of course receive videos containing guidance and flight plans from the earth headquarters.”

The astronauts also conducted the first two-way video call, allowing them to talk to the earth face to face. Another breakthrough is “multi-cabin talk.” No matter whether they are in the lab module, return capsule or orbital module, astronauts can talk with the earth at the same time. “Astronauts will undoubtedly feel comforted and supported by the im- ages from the earth when communicating with their families and ground support personnel,” said Jia Wenjun, chief of the communication system of the BACC.

The Shenzhou-9 spacecraft is equipped with a refrigerator developed independently by China, making the nation the third country, after U.S. and Russia, to develop the technology, and Haier the worlds first commercial company to do so.

Benefits on Earth

The Shenzhou-9s completed mission indicates that China is now able to build space station and has brought the countrys space endeavors once again into the worlds spotlight.

But many Chinese experts believe that China is still in the preliminary stage of manned spacecraft. There is still a long way to go before China reaches the point where it can send astronauts into space to live for over a year or send a probe to the edge of the galaxy.

Still a developing country, China pursues ambitions in space that are within its ability, and has no intention of competing with the U.S. and Russia. The white paper Chinas Space Activities in 2011 cited peaceful exploration of outer space, promotion of human civilization and social progress, and benefiting human beings as the cardinal principles of Chinas space program.

The development of the space program has also created considerable economic and social benefits. Of the 1,100 new materials that have recently been invented in China, 80 percent have benefited from space technologies. Some of these have been applied to technology that directly affects peoples lives, including wind turbine blades, the anti-corrosion paint used on tracks of high-speed railways, and the Beidou navigation system. Now over 2,000 space technologies have been applied in the public and commercial sector, peoples work and life.

Furthermore, the direct benefits of the recently proved technology will not be confined to China. “In the future, China will train foreign astronauts with its own space technology and send them into space by Shenzhou spacecraft. “Chinas space station will be open to scientists all around the world,” said Zhou Jianping, chief designer of Chinas manned space program.