(Chinese focus face to face) How does the Chinese space station make female astronauts "beautiful"? Is it far for foreigners to join?
China News Service, Beijing, October 16th, title: How does the China Space Station make female astronauts "beautiful"?
Is it far for foreigners to join?
——Interview with Pang Zhihao, Chief Science Communication Expert of National Space Exploration Technology
Author Ma Shuaisha Guo Chaokai
On October 16, the Shenzhou 13 spacecraft carried three astronauts successfully into space.
While the China Space Station welcomes its first female astronaut, the astronauts will once again refresh their stay in orbit.
Compared with Shenzhou 12, what are the new features of Shenzhou 13 mission?
How to guarantee the astronaut's life in space for six months?
What will the joining of female astronauts bring to the Chinese space station?
China News Agency "China Focus Face to Face" interviewed Pang Zhihao, the chief science communication expert of national space exploration technology, to give an authoritative interpretation of these issues.
Excerpts from the interview are as follows:
China News Service: The Shenzhou 13 mission is the second manned mission of the China Space Station. Compared with the Shenzhou 12 mission, what are the new features or highlights of the “Shenzhou 13” mission?
Pang Zhihao:
This is the first time (China) has performed a six-month mission in space. In addition, there are female astronauts going to the sky, which is very interesting.
The first is to thoroughly verify the astronauts' long-term stay in orbit support technology, including the space station's regenerative life support system technology, astronaut material supply management, and astronaut health management to prepare for the follow-up long-term stay.
The second is to (verify) the long-term stay guarantee technology of the spacecraft.
In response to the influence of the space station’s complex configuration and attitude (complexity) external heat flow, starting from Shenzhou 12, the thermal control technology and power supply technology have been improved. This time, it will take another 6 months to verify the spacecraft. How does it perform.
The third is to grasp the life and work experience and physiological and psychological changes of astronauts in orbit for a long time.
The Shenzhou 12 mission was completed successfully, but one or two successes does not mean maturity, so this mission needs to be tested again. For example, the astronaut and the robotic arm will jointly complete the exit mission and test the Dongfeng landing site in different seasons. Search and rescue capabilities.
On October 16, the Shenzhou 13 manned spacecraft was successfully launched.
Image source: People's Vision
China News Agency reporter: The stay time of the Shenzhou 13 flight crew on orbit has been extended again. What significance does this have for the construction of the Chinese space station and the development of scientific experiments? What subject experiments will the space station carry out in the next six months, and what technological achievements may benefit the general public?
Pang Zhihao:
This time the astronauts have been in orbit twice as long, and they can complete more scientific research tasks and tasks that require astronauts to stay in orbit for a long time.
Each experimental cabinet on the core module is a comprehensive laboratory. The Shenzhou 12 astronauts have carried out assembly, debugging and test experiments (cabinet). This time the astronauts can directly carry out experiments, such as the human system research cabinet and high microgravity. Experiment cabinet, scientific experiment cabinet without container (material).
The benefit of the third laboratory cabinet may be more prominent.
Smelting on the ground generally requires a container to hold the melt. Under high temperature conditions, the container will introduce impurities to the melt.
This experimental cabinet can allow the melt to be suspended and conduct container-free experiments to avoid this problem. The laser can be used to increase the temperature to more than 3000 degrees. New experimental purification can be carried out. Very pure materials can be smelted and then material research can be carried out. These may affect the ground. There are direct uses.
China News Agency "China Focus Face to Face" interviewed Pang Zhihao, chief science communication expert of national space exploration technology.
Photo by Tian Yuhao, China News Agency reporter
China News Agency reporter: What challenges and risks will the extended stay of astronauts in orbit bring to the mission? What countermeasures did the space station and the ground take? What are the emergency preparedness?
Pang Zhihao:
(Residence) will last as long as 6 months, which will reach the current level of the International Space Station (stay of astronauts).
A large number of studies have shown that 6 months is the best time to not only ensure the physical condition of the astronauts, but also ensure that the funds are relatively saved.
The physical and psychological impact of extended residence time on astronauts will be greater than three months.
For example, in terms of physiology, due to the influence of the microgravity environment, the phenomenon of bone decalcification and muscle atrophy of astronauts will be more serious if they stay in space for a long time.
There are currently several countermeasures, the most important of which is to strengthen exercise. (Shenzhou 13 crew) should exercise more than Shenzhou 12 crew. You may have to exercise for more than two hours a day.
The second is to use the "penguin suit", which is a kind of pressure suit.
The third is to use a negative pressure cylinder. The body fluids of the astronauts go up in a weightless environment, so the faces are relatively large. We call them "moon faces", and the negative pressure cylinders (can) let the body fluids go down.
The fourth is to take special medicine. We not only have Western medicine, but also Chinese medicine.
In addition, it is necessary to supplement water sources, strengthen nutrition, and carry out relevant training before God.
The Shenzhou 13 manned spacecraft and the space station assembly completed an autonomous rapid rendezvous and docking.
Source: China Manned Spaceflight
China News Agency reporter: During the Shenzhou 13 mission, a female astronaut was stationed in the Chinese space station for the first time. Compared with male astronauts, how are female astronauts selected and trained? What is special about its selection and training?
Pang Zhihao:
Manned spaceflight missions are arduous, with complex skills, special environments and certain risks. Therefore, high requirements are placed on the physical and psychological qualities of astronauts, and female astronauts are no exception.
The selection and training standards for male and female astronauts are basically the same, and there are no special selection and training standards for female astronauts.
The space station space mission is more complicated, so the division of labor is carried out.
There are flight experts, also called space pilots; there are mission experts, that is, space flight engineers; and there are even load experts.
Female astronauts now account for 10% of the entire space crew. From a global perspective, most of (female astronauts) are mission experts. This has a certain relationship with the physical and psychological conditions of female astronauts, such as the comparison of female fat Many, the average height is short, the weight is light, and the energy consumption of aerobic exercise is also low.
But there are also individual flight experts, such as the first female pilot of the US space shuttle and commander Collins.
A lot of practical and theoretical studies have found that female astronauts have the ability to perform space missions, and in some aspects they feel more keen, more delicate in their minds, consider problems more comprehensively, pay more attention to methods and methods of handling problems, and have better communication skills.
In a microgravity environment, the metabolism of estrogen (level) and magnesium of female astronauts is better than that of male astronauts, and their iron content (in the body) is low, so they are considered more suitable for long-term space life and are not prone to iron poisoning, thrombosis, and blood vessels. Spasms, heart rhythm disturbances.
China News Agency reporter: As the first female astronaut to enter the Chinese space station, Wang Yaping has entered space for the second time. Why did you choose Wang Yaping as a member of the Shenzhou 13 flight crew?
Pang Zhihao:
Wang Yaping is relatively mature physically and mentally.
This (mission) is the first time to stay for 6 months, and sending Wang Yaping up has a clear advantage.
The female astronaut stays in orbit for a long time. From the perspective of physical structure and psychological quality, she may be more mature and stable, and her ability to adapt to the aerospace environment will be longer.
At the same time, she can bring vitality to the crew, make cooperation smoother, and work more efficient. After going up, she can carry out more comprehensive aerospace medical experiments. Moreover, Wang Yaping has experience in flying. This time it is more appropriate to bring the new with the old.
On October 15, the expedition ceremony for the crew of the astronauts of the Shenzhou 13 manned mission was held at Wentian Pavilion Square of the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center.
Image source: Visual China
China News Agency reporter: We noticed that the Tianzhou-3 cargo spacecraft delivered cosmetics, women’s clothing and other daily necessities specifically for female astronauts. In order to welcome the female astronauts, what preparations has the Chinese space station made? How will the long-term working life of female astronauts in orbit be guaranteed?
Pang Zhihao:
According to women's physiological characteristics and life needs, we really should make some special preparations.
For example, the spacecraft seat is specially made according to the figure of the female astronaut, making her more comfortable whether she is flying or returning.
The second is to customize her in-vehicle space suit, especially women's hands are relatively slender, we made gloves suitable for women.
After she put it on, it will be more convenient for her to work or deal with other problems.
The height distance of the female astronaut's urine collection system has also been adjusted; in addition, she has been equipped with chocolates, desserts and blood supplements.
According to the needs of this mission, Tianzhou-3 sent the female astronauts sanitary products and a small amount of non-toxic cosmetics. The female astronauts may have a better psychological state after putting on makeup.
In view of the physiological characteristics of female astronauts, such as menstrual problems, practice shows that female astronauts have normal menstruation in space, but spacewalking during menstruation is prone to decompression sickness. Therefore, spacewalking is generally not performed during menstruation.
China News Service: All three astronauts on the Shenzhou 12 flight crew had carried out extravehicular activities. Is it possible for female astronauts to carry out extravehicular operations during the "Shen XIII" mission? Will astronauts have a division of tasks on the space station?
Pang Zhihao:
I think this time the female astronaut will perform extravehicular operations, which will give birth to the first woman (astronaut) in China's spacewalk.
This is not just an honor. We want to explore the laws, characteristics, and advantages of female astronauts walking outside the cabin.
Female astronauts are generally short in stature, but this also has advantages because they are smaller in extravehicular activities, easier to control, and can perform more delicate tasks.
In space, astronauts generally have to use themselves as research objects to carry out aerospace medicine and space life science research.
For example, US astronaut Green went to space at the age of 77 to study the effects of long-term space life on the physiology and psychology of the elderly.
This time Wang Yaping went up to carry out aerospace medicine and space science life research, which is dominated by women, in preparation for the long-term manned spaceflight in the future.
Data map: On March 14, 2021, Wang Yaping participated in the man-ship joint test.
Photo by Kong Fangzhou
China News Agency reporter: We have noticed that the Tianzhou-3 cargo spacecraft has sent a set of more than 90 kilograms of extravehicular space suits to the space station. The Chinese space station currently has three sets of extravehicular space suits. What are the reasons for this? Compared with the previous two extravehicular spacesuits, how is this extravehicular spacesuit different?
Pang Zhihao: The
spacesuit sent to Tianzhou-3 is lighter than the previous one, but its performance is the same as the other two sets, reaching the performance indicators of the second-generation "Flying" extravehicular spacesuit.
At present, there are few female astronauts in the world, one of the reasons is that there are no extravehicular space suits specially suitable for women.
The most typical example is that the United States once carried out an all-female spacewalk. Generally, spacewalks consisted of one man, one woman, or two men. At that time, there was only one extravehicular space suit suitable for female astronauts on the space station. A relatively small extravehicular space suit suitable for women completed the first all-female spacewalk.
So extravehicular spacesuits are very important for spacewalks.
China News Service: In order to ensure the six-month supply of the Shenzhou 13 flight crew, the cargo spacecraft Tianzhou-3 carried more packages than the Tianzhou-2. In order to facilitate the astronauts to quickly lock and use the package, what designs have the researchers made?
Pang Zhihao:
For the convenience of astronauts, we designed a set of cargo on-orbit information management system on the space station.
For example, an astronaut wants to find fish-flavored shredded pork, enter it in the system, and the system will tell him where he is, in which package, and how to go, and he can search for it according to the coordinate code.
Each package has a QR code, and the astronaut has a device about the size of a mobile phone. By scanning the QR code, you can further confirm what kind of goods are inside, and the inventory of similar goods, which is very fast.
According to the suggestion of the Shenzhou 12 astronauts, we added a logo to the packages sent by the Tianzhou-3. Each package has a colored butterfly belt. For example, the green one is for food, the dark blue one is for equipment, and the lighter one is for food. The blue ones are supplies.
China News Agency reporter: After the rendezvous and docking of the Tianzhou-3 and the space station assembly, the space station took on a "one" configuration. After the Shenzhou 13 was docked, the configuration of the space station changed again. What are the special features of the space station configuration and its changes? Why is the Chinese Space Station designed in a T-shape?
Pang Zhihao
: The configuration of the space station should ensure that its main structure and mass are as symmetrical and compact as possible, and that the center of mass can be centered, so as to reduce the energy required for attitude control.
The (Tianhe) core cabins are docked with the cargo spacecraft one after the other for balance, and the spacecraft will also be in the same orbital plane after going up and docked along the radius of the orbit, so it has no effect on attitude control.
The second is that the two solar battery wings installed at the ends of the two experimental chambers with basically the same size and mass can be illuminated by sunlight and can be powered at any time no matter what posture the space station is flying in.
There is an air lock chamber at the end of the T-shape. When the air lock chamber is leaked or abnormal, it will not affect other pressure chambers of the space station.
In the future, it will be docked into a T-shape, and the core cabin will retain the rear-forward-downward docking interface. The rearward is for docking the cargo spacecraft. After the Tianzhou cargo spacecraft is docked, it can ensure that the combination uses the cargo spacecraft engine to make the entire space station combination. Perform orbital maneuvers.
China News Agency reporter: From "Shen 12" to "Shen 13", the Chinese space station is gradually becoming mature. China has publicly stated on many occasions that it welcomes foreign astronauts to join the space station. In fact, many foreign astronauts have been learning Chinese over the years. In your opinion, what is the significance of foreign astronauts joining the Chinese space station in the future for space station construction and international cooperation? When can foreign astronauts join the Chinese space station?
Pang Zhihao:
I think it does make sense.
Several foreign astronauts have gone to China for training, including life-saving training in Yantai. They are all veterans of the space station.
When they go to the Chinese space station, they will bring long-term life and work experience on the space station, and they can achieve new results.
The International Space Station may be decommissioned in 2024. The Chinese Space Station is considered a rising star and has adopted many new technologies. Both parties can play their respective strengths, share results, and be able to do more with less.
Foreign astronauts may also bring new experiments and advanced instruments to enable the Chinese space station to produce faster and more results, and to improve the efficiency of the space station.
Our scientists can also be inspired by working with them to make the space station more effective.
I want to join the foreign astronauts after the two experimental modules are connected to the core module.
China has launched a worldwide collection of scientific experiments, and some experiments have been approved and are considered to be both scientifically valuable and safe. Currently, the first batch has been selected, and the second batch will be selected in the future.
Some scientific experiments may be carried out by sending their experiments (equipment) to us, and some experiments may be carried out by foreign astronauts on board our spacecraft.
(over)