Three years ago today, the Tiangong-2 space laboratory was controlled to deorbit and re-enter the atmosphere, marking a successful conclusion to the mission of my country's space laboratory.
Schematic diagram of Tiangong-2 space laboratory in orbit
As my country's first real space laboratory, Tiangong-2 has completed four rendezvous and docking with Shenzhou-11 manned spacecraft and Tianzhou-1 cargo spacecraft, and successfully supported two astronauts, Jing Haipeng and Chen Dong. Working and living in orbit for 30 days, breaking through and mastering a series of key technologies such as mid-term astronaut residency and propellant replenishment in orbit, and completing a number of expansion experiments during the over 300 days of overdue service, developing, constructing and operating for the Chinese space station Management has accumulated important experience.
Achieve mid-term residency and break through a number of key technologies
On October 19, 2016, Shenzhou 11 crew astronauts Jing Haipeng and Chen Dong entered Tiangong 2 to start their one-month space life.
Astronauts Jing Haipeng and Chen Dong successfully entered Tiangong-2
In this activity space of about 15 cubic meters, the astronauts implement a synchronous work and rest system for 6 days a week and 8 hours a day. During the orbital flight, they can also exercise daily by cycling, running on the space treadmill, etc. Communication via video, email, etc.
Astronaut Chen Dong talks to his wife and children
During the 1,036 days in orbit, Tiangong-2 dutifully completed its mission, and the on-orbit stay of the Shenzhou 11 crew on Tiangong-2 also laid a solid foundation for the long-term stay of astronauts in the space station phase and provided Valuable "space travel" experience.
On October 23, Tiangong-2 successfully released the accompanying satellite.
As a space-level "selfie artifact", the satellite recorded a beautiful picture of Tiangong-2 and the Shenzhou spacecraft "walking hand in hand".
Companion star observation assembly visible light image
In addition, the Tiangong-2 space laboratory and the Tianzhou-1 cargo spacecraft carried out a series of on-orbit technical tests, creating several key "firsts": my country's first propellant on-orbit supplementary test, the first orbital flight and the first autonomous flight The rapid rendezvous and docking test ... lays a more solid technical foundation for the subsequent development and construction of the project.
Schematic diagram of the orbiting and rendezvous of Tianzhou-1 and Tiangong-2
The space science experiment has yielded fruitful results
As a veritable space laboratory, Tiangong-2 has also carried out a number of space science experiments and technical experiments.
Tiangong-2 carried a total of 14 applied loads of about 600 kilograms, as well as aerospace medical experimental equipment and on-orbit maintenance test equipment, carried out more than 60 space science experiments and technical experiments, successfully completed various established tasks, and obtained a large number of international The results of leading level and significant application benefits.
Solar X-ray burst observed
The detection capability is comparable to that of the international astronomical satellites
The Gamma Burst Polarization Detector onboard Tiangong-2 successfully observed solar X-ray bursts during its operation, with a detection capability comparable to that of the International Astronomical Satellite.
55 cases of cosmic gamma-ray bursts were successfully detected, making important contributions to the international joint detection of gamma-ray bursts.
Gamma Burst Polarization Detector
Completed the whole process of plant growth experiment for the first time
Tiangong-2 is equipped with a micro incubator, which is planted with rice, a typical representative of food crops, and Arabidopsis, a typical representative of green leafy plants. It is the first time to complete the whole process of plant growth experiments in space.
Space Plant Cultivation Experiment
Orbit determination by pulse signal
Running the world's first in-orbit cold atomic clock
The space cold atomic clock carried by Tiangong-2 is the first in-orbit cold atomic clock in the world. According to the in-orbit test results, the daily stability of the cold atomic clock is estimated to reach 7.2E-16, which is at the international leading level.
Space Cold Atomic Clock
In addition, Tiangong-2 has achieved orbit determination for the first time in China by using the pulse signal of the Crab Nebula pulsar, which has promoted the development of pulsar observation and navigation technology.
From "Heaven" to "Heaven"
Three years ago today, my country's first real space laboratory, Tiangong-2, was controlled and re-entered, completing its glorious mission; today, three years later, a brand new Chinese "Tiangong" space station is under construction and will be soon. The first experimental module docked with the core module is ready to go.
Wentian experimental cabin and rocket assembly are transported vertically
At present, the crew of Shenzhou 14, which is carrying out the mission of the core module assembly, is carrying out various preparations in an orderly manner to prepare for the arrival of the Wentian experimental module.
It is worth mentioning that Chen Dong, the crew commander of Shenzhou No. 14, as one of the witnesses who worked and lived in Tiangong-2, is now devoting himself to various on-orbit technical training to prepare for the upcoming flight. The arrival of another historic moment to accumulate energy.
Astronaut Chen Dong working in orbit
From staying in orbit for 30 days in the space laboratory, to the initial experience of the space station for 3 months, and then to the "space trip" spanning half a year, Chinese astronauts continue to set new records for the length of time in orbit, and the project is also struggling to run out development acceleration.
From the Tiangong No. 2 space laboratory to the Tiangong space station, the environment of the "Space Home" has changed, the ambition of chasing the dream has not changed, and the determination to build a space power has not changed.
Our country will take a firmer and more steady step on the road to dream in space!