Asked about the launch of the sky, China Space Station went further towards the national space laboratory!

At 14:22:22 on July 24, 2022, the first experimental cabin of China Tiangong Space Station "Ask the sky" successfully upgraded at Wenchang Aerospace launches, and accurately entered the scheduled track. Essence

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Seven key issues, take you to understand the launch of Chinese aerospace this time.

1. Why do you want to launch the experimental cabin?

Since its start of 1992, China's manned space engineering has gone through 30 years. It has independent carrier rockets, manned spacecraft, cargo spacecraft, astronauts, and space stations. 1 The huge engineering capacity breakthrough. The purpose of the new stage is to establish a space station platform where astronauts can stay for a long time, carry out large -scale space applications, and provide advanced space technology platforms for economic and social development.

In other words: before planting trees, it is cool now. The previously established manned aerospace engineering technical capacity foundation must be "realized" into various high -tech aerospace technology to nurture the development of scientific and technological development in all aspects. This process needs to be completed through complex space science experiments in space.

The venue for space science experiments is the experimental cabin needed by Tiangong.

Second, why is "asking the sky" and "Dream Tian"?

Space has a special condition that is difficult to reproduce on the earth, such as long -term stable weightless environment and space radiation environment, which is rarely disturbed by the earth's atmosphere and magnetic field, which is convenient for astronomical observation. For example, liquid droplets can easily form a near -perfect spherical shape, which is difficult to achieve on the earth. This feature can be used for new materials experiments.

All experimental cabinets are designed by modularity to facilitate experiments and maintenance (Picture Source: Chinese Manned Aerospace, Chinese Academy of Sciences)

In order to make full use of the characteristics of the space environment, my country will set up 25 scientific experimental cabinets at the Tiangong Space Station. The two major experimental cabins will also conduct a certain division of labor. The surgery industry has specialized attacks, and focuses on the science and micro -gravity scientific research on space life. Through external experimental platforms, experiments related to space radiation and space environment are performed. In the future, the sky -to -sky space telescope will also fly with the space station for astronomical observation.

"Ask the sky" and "Dream Tian" are the names of the two experimental compartment of the space station. They have jointly constructed the romantic temperament of manned aerospace with vocabulary such as Long March, Shenzhou, Tianzhou, Tianhe, and Tiangong.

3. Why do you send it first?

The core reason is that the experimental compartment of "Ask the Heaven" is very special. It is not only an experimental cabin that focuses on space life science, but also another "core cabin".

"Ask the sky" can be regarded as a backup of the core compartment of "Tianhe". It has the unified management and control capabilities of the space station, and has the life maintenance system of astronauts. During the rotation phase of the two astronauts in the future, a total of 6 astronauts are stationed in the Tiangong Space Station. The two large -class sections each accommodate the work and life of three astronauts.

Great "Ask the Sky" experimental compartment (picture source: China Aerospace Technology Group)

At the same time, it will also take over the heavy responsibility of the astronauts out of the cabin. After docking multiple cabins, the node compartment part of the core compartment of the "Tianhe" must be in a long -term pressing state. It is difficult to perform walking operations again. The function is replaced by the air gate of "Ask the sky". In addition, the experimental cabin also comes with a small robotic arm. Compared with the existing main robotic arm, it has a higher end positioning and fixed posture accuracy, and it is easier to achieve complex off -class operations.

Therefore, multiple part -time functions make "asking the sky" must be sent first.

Fourth, who will send "asking the sky"?

"Ask the sky" is an out -of -the -box giant Undo: it weighs 20 tons, 17.9 meters in length, and even grows more than the core compartment of "Tianhe". It is a new record of a single -cabin segment in the history of human bearing space. Then, the difficulty of launch can be imagined.

Long March 5 Basic Type and B-type carrier rocket comparison chart (picture source: Memorian-QN)

It will launch it will be my country's Long March 5 B Rockets. Compared with the 57 -meter -tall "big fat" of the Long March 5, it is a "dwarf" about 53.7 meters. It removes about 11.5 meters long core level, which is a typical "first -half (core first -level+booster)" configuration, but uses a larger and longer rectifier for launch in the rocket launch Protect the spacecraft during the period. The length of the new version of the rectifier reached 20.5 meters and 5.2 meters in diameter, which is enough to protect the huge cabin sections of the Tiangong Space Station.

The Long March 5 -type B Rocket is a "big country heavy weapon" that focuses on the near -ground rail heavy load transportation, and it is also the "number one hero" in the construction of Tiangong Space Station.

5. Who will take "asking the sky"?

After the launch of "Ask the Sky", it will achieve the first time in my country to meet with someone in the space station.

At present, three astronauts Chen Dong, Liu Yang, and Cai Xuzhe have greeted "asking the sky" in the Tiangong. And their Shenzhou No. 14 mission is also a milestone task in the history of my country's manned space. On the one hand, they want to complete the main construction of the Tiangong Space Station; on the other hand, the multiplier is composed of a new generation (second batch) astronauts, which is also the first time in history.

Cai Xuzhe, Chen Dong, Liu Yang (Picture Source: Chinese Manned Aerospace)

Such an important task is completed by "newcomers", which shows that they have completely carried the beam of Chinese aerospace. With the deepening of Chinese space science research, my country's third batch of astronauts are also in training, and they have also begun to have "load experts" specializing in research.

6. Where does "ask the sky" do you receive?

"Ask the sky" is a 20 -ton -level big man who must be connected with the node compartment of the core compartment of "Tianhe" in the flight direction. Here, it has the most comprehensive and secure multiple meetings and connection auxiliary systems. A few days ago, Tianzhou -3 cargo spacecraft connected here had retired, and eventually evacuated from Tiangong and burned into the atmosphere. After confirming the docking, "asking the sky" cannot take up this valuable docking position for a long time. After all, there will be a "Dream Tian" experimental cabin, freight and manned spacecraft in the future. It needs to be transferred 90 degrees with the assistance of the robotic arm. The requirements of the entire process for reliability and stability can be imagined.

The final form of Tiangong Space Station (Picture Source: Chinese Manned Aerospace)

After the "Dream Sky" visited during the year, the "T -shaped" structure designed by Tiangong Space Station will be completed and officially completed. In the future, it can expand new core compartment and experimental compartment based on node compartment, and build a larger space station of 100 tons.

7. What should I do after the docking of "Ask the Heaven"?

The primary task after the connection and converter is to turn on the life maintenance system and astronauts settled in the experimental cabin. The assembly of various scientific experimental cabinets is assembled, and the preliminary disciplines are set up to ensure that the overall working state of the experimental cabin meets the expectations.

It is equipped with experimental cabinets that can conduct life ecology, biotechnology and gravity scientific research, which can support the development, development, genetic, aging and other response mechanisms of various types of plants, animals, microorganisms, etc., which will effectively promote our country Breakthrough in major cutting -edge science and technology such as life ecology, biotechnology and gravity science.

During the Shenzhou 14th mission, the three astronauts will also go out of the cabin 2-3 times from here to complete off-class operations. The new version of Tiangong Class will also be carried out in the new "Ask Heaven" experimental cabin. At the same time, it also provides the second "bedroom" of Tiangong for the upcoming Shenzhou 15 mission.

The new section of Tiangong Class will be carried out in a new experimental cabin (picture source: CCTV)

In general, the departure of the "Ask Sky" experimental cabin marks the new stage of my country's manned space project officially entering the space science experiment and technical exploration. A new national space laboratory is about to be completed. China is on the way to enter the space age. further!

Produced: Popular Science China

Author: space craft

Producer: China Science Popularization Expo

The China Science Popularization Expo is the Science Popular Science Platform of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. It is sponsored by the Computer Network Information Center of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. Relying on the high -end scientific resources of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, it is committed to spreading cutting -edge scientific knowledge and providing fun science and education services.

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