Beijing BEIJING, October 14 electricity

problem: entering "into the Japanese era," China to probe why the sun?

  China News Service reporter Guo Chaokai

  China successfully launched the first solar exploration science and technology experimental satellite "Xihe" on the 14th. This satellite will realize the first international space exploration of solar Hα band spectral imaging, filling the gap of high-quality observational data in the source area of ​​solar bursts, which marks China Formally entered the "day of exploration".

  What is the current status of global space solar exploration?

Why does China want to detect the sun?

What is the significance of China's first exploration of the sun?

A reporter from Chinanews.com interviewed Zhao Jian, director of the China National Space Administration’s Earth Observation and Data Center and chief designer of a major high-resolution earth observation project, and will take you to China’s first solar exploration science and technology experimental satellite "Xihe" .

  Why does China want to detect the sun?

  The sun is the most important environmental factor in the development of human civilization and economic society on the earth, and it is the source of the growth of all things.

The sun is the largest celestial body in the solar system. It is about 150 million kilometers (one astronomical unit) from the earth. It is the closest star to the earth and the most closely related to human beings.

  Zhao Jian pointed out that the role of the sun on the evolution of the earth and the development of human civilization is indispensable.

At the same time, the impact of the sun on the earth is also ubiquitous, mainly reflected in the large number of charged high-energy particles produced by the sun's eruptions, which cause serious damage to the electromagnetic environment of the earth. Among them, sunspots, flares and coronal mass ejections have the most significant impact on the electromagnetic environment of the earth.

  The solar activity cycle is about 11 years. The period from 2021 to 2022 is the beginning of the 25th solar activity cycle since human records. The world has entered a new peak of solar research.

Detecting and studying solar activities and proposing countermeasures can reduce or avoid adverse effects on the earth.

"As a major aerospace country, it is very necessary for China to carry out solar exploration activities in a timely manner and cannot be absent," said Zhao Jian.

There are more than 70 solar observation satellites

  Since ancient times, humans have been full of curiosity about the sun and have observed and studied it in various ways.

Since the 1960s, with the rapid development of aerospace technology, the world has launched more than 70 solar observation satellites, mainly in developed countries such as the United States, Russia, and Japan, focusing on the observation of sunspots, flares and coronal mass ejections. Research.

  Zhao Jian introduced that recent typical solar probes, such as the world’s first twin solar observation satellites-the Sun-Earth Relation Observation Platform, launched by the United States in October 2006, carried out three-dimensional imaging of sunspots to help scientists study The surrounding environment of the sun and the impact of solar activities on the entire solar system; In January 2009, Russia launched the "Coronas" solar exploration satellite to detect the internal structure of the sun and the impact of solar activities on the Earth’s climate, atmosphere and biosphere; the United States in 2018 The "Parker" solar probe was launched into the sky to detect the structure of the sun at close range and obtained considerable results.

The main trend in the current world is to conduct comprehensive observations and close observations of the solar structure, magnetic field, sunspots, flares, and solar atmosphere.

  China has currently formulated two solar exploration plans, namely the "Xihe" and "Kwafu" exploration plans.

"Xihe" is a scientific and technological test satellite that launches solar Hα spectrum detection and ultra-high pointing accuracy and ultra-high stability satellite platform tests, realizing China's solar exploration ice-breaking journey.

The "Kwafu" project is to develop and launch an advanced space-based solar observatory satellite to conduct scientific observations of the sun. It has been included in the pilot program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

China's Japanese exploration started late but the starting point is high

  During the "Thirteenth Five-Year Plan" period, the China National Space Administration organized China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation, Nanjing University, Chinese Academy of Sciences and other units to target the urgently needed innovative technology verification and space science frontier research needs for China's aerospace development, and formulated a roadmap for the development of space science research. The mission objective of "Solar Hα band spectral imaging detection + ultra-high pointing accuracy and ultra-high stability satellite platform technical flight verification" is proposed.

Although it started late, there are many new technologies and new products in orbit verification, abundant test projects, accurate focus of detection targets, and a high starting point for research.

  Talking about the significance of China's first exploration of the sun?

Zhao Jian said that this mission is to achieve a breakthrough in China’s solar exploration zero, marking China’s official entry into the "sun exploration era"; the second is to test new satellite platform technologies with ultra-high pointing accuracy and ultra-high stability in orbit, and promote China's high-precision satellite platform technology is revolutionized and developed by leaps and bounds; the third is to open up new prospects for international cooperation and exchanges in China's solar exploration, and to greatly improve China's international status in the field of solar physics; the fourth is to stimulate the enthusiasm for exploring space science and cultivate innovation aspect.

  At present, the development of international solar exploration is changing rapidly. The number of papers published in the field of solar observation in China has ranked second in the world, but the data used are all from foreign satellite data.

Zhao insisted that the successful launch of the satellite will break China’s passive situation in this field. China will set up a satellite data science committee to formulate data policies for scientists at home and abroad to research, use, and share satellite detection data, and strive to produce original science. Achievements, make China's contribution to the cause of human science.

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