Author: Zhang Tian (China Astronaut Research and Training Center)

The article comes from the official account of the Academy of Sciences (ID: kexuedayuan)

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For a long time, there have been thousands of satellites in space, but there is only one space station, and that is the International Space Station. It is jointly operated by NASA, Roscosmos, European Space Agency (ESA), Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) and Canadian Space Agency (CSA). In the past 20 years of operation, the International Space Station has received 239 brave explorers and performed more than 2,700 scientific experiments.

For some reasons, the International Space Station does not welcome the participation of China, whose aerospace capabilities have ranked among the top in the world.

However, spring does not mean only one flower blooms, but spring fills the garden with hundreds of flowers blooming. Soon, this situation will be broken!

According to the plan, my country will launch the core module of the space station in 2020. This is the third step of the "three-step" strategy of my country's manned aerospace project - the space station mission stage, which is to build a space station in space with an internationally advanced level to solve large-scale, long-term manned space application problems. The plan It will be completed around 2022, and its core module is expected to be launched this year.

Although they don’t take us to play, it doesn’t mean that we can’t learn from their advanced experience. Then let us follow the eyes of the camera and see what is being carried out on the International Space Station in 2019. Pioneering research now!

"Man, know thyself"

"Man, know thyself" is a famous saying engraved on the Temple of Apollo in Greece. Knowing yourself is not only a philosophical issue in personal life, but also the highlight of scientific research on the International Space Station. Many life science explorations are being carried out here, especially research on certain diseases, the results of which will benefit thousands of humans on the earth.

Do you want organs? The kind that prints!

NASA astronaut Christina Koch launches the Biofabrication Facility (BFF). Scientists and medical scientists have long dreamed of using 3D bioprinters to create human organs. But it turns out that it is very difficult to print out the tiny and complex structures inside human organs under the influence of the earth's gravity. And BFF can explore whether human organs can be manufactured through 3D printing in the microgravity environment of space.

Will long-term flight increase the risk of Alzheimer’s disease

European Space Agency (ESA) astronaut Luca Parmitano holds a capsule containing amyloid A small jar with a blue cap for protein aggregation. Amyloid fibrils are proteins that aggregate in the body and are associated with a variety of neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases. Such neurodegenerative diseases are potential risks for astronauts flying long distances. This study is evaluating whether microgravity affects the formation of these fibers.

Explore new cancer treatments

NASA flight engineer Christina Koch is using a microscope to observe and photograph growing protein crystal samples. Microgravity crystallography studies have crystallized a membrane protein that is integral to the process of tumor growth and cancer survival. Targeting this protein, the findings could help develop more effective cancer treatments with fewer side effects.

Has your perception of time become unreliable?

Does it feel like time flies in space, or does it feel like every day is like a year? Canadian Space Agency (CSA) astronaut David Saint Jacques conducted a research experiment on time perception in a microgravity environment. After wearing the monitor, the astronauts will see blue squares and then tell how long the squares have been displayed to measure and analyze subjective changes in human perception of time during long-term exposure to microgravity.

The experimental results preliminarily show that people will feel that time passes faster in space. This should be considered good news. Long space travel in the future seems to be more comfortable.

Red blood cells and white blood cells

NASA astronaut Anne McClain holds biomedical equipment used in bone marrow experiments. The study measured changes in fat in the bone marrow before and after microgravity, as well as specific changes in red and white blood cell function.

How to eat more vegetables in space

NASA astronaut Jessica Meir watered the wild mustard culture medium on the space station and harvested it And then ate these vegetables. This study focuses on the effects of light quality and fertilizer on leafy crops.

In space, microgravity may slow plant growth. Since there is no gravity, the transpiration of plants will be affected. The water vapor originally lost to the atmosphere through the leaves will adhere to the leaves for a longer time. Transpiration can reduce the temperature of the plant body and is the main method for plants to absorb and transport water. power. In addition, the carbon dioxide concentration in the spacecraft plant culture vessel is much higher than that on Earth. Plants grown in a high carbon dioxide environment will lose their nutritional value, and their zinc, iron and vitamin content will be reduced. A combination of factors has resulted in reduced plant yields and nutrition. Therefore, how to grow green plants in space safely, efficiently and at reasonable cost to form a fresh food supply system is a top priority in aerospace research.

Building better bones in space

NASA astronaut Nick Hague operates the Life Science Glove Box (LSG, the Life) in Japan's Kibo experimental module Sciences Glovebox). He is conducting scientific operations on bone healing and tissue regeneration experiments. This research could lead to a better understanding of the factors that influence tissue regeneration and help combat the loss of bone density experienced by astronauts in space.

Feel the Rhythm

The picture shows NASA astronaut Anne McClain floating in the foyer between the "Harmony" and "Destiny" experimental modules. A sensor on her forehead is collecting data from a circadian rhythm experiment, which studies how an astronaut's "biological clock" changes during long-duration space flights.

"If a worker wants to do his job well, he must first sharpen his tools."

Using tools is not the fundamental difference between humans and animals, but creating tools is. How to make our tools more satisfactory, make the materials used to make them more suitable, and make the operating methods more advanced are people's unremitting pursuit. The microgravity environment of the International Space Station has brought new research perspectives and experimental methods to scientific researchers, and has also become a training ground for testing cutting-edge technologies.

"Cryogenic cold chain transportation"

NASA astronauts Christina Koch and Andrew Morgan loaded biological research samples into the United States " In a scientific refrigerator in the Destiny experimental cabin. Although the specific cost has not been disclosed, there is no doubt that this must be the most expensive refrigerator in the world. Storing scientific samples in refrigeration devices such as the International Space Station Experimental Low Temperature Refrigerator (GLACIER) is critical to preserving scientific data generated in space for return to Earth for analysis by researchers.

Testing material life

NASA astronauts Nick Hague and Anne McClain first installed " International Space Station Materials Experiment-Flight Facility (MISSE-FF, Materials ISS Experiment-Flight Facility), and then depressurize the device. MISSE-FF is equipped with new material exposure experiments to be conducted outside the Kibo cabin. The "International Space Station Materials Experiment" (MISSE) mission is an International Space Station test mission specially set up for material irradiation testing. It was launched in 2001 and can verify the lifespan of materials used in spacecraft development. The research will help scientists understand how radiation, the vacuum environment of space and impacts from micrometeoroids affect various materials.

Using microorganisms to mine minerals?

European Space Agency astronaut Luca Parmitano installs a biomining reactor at KUBIK as part of BioRock research. Biomining, already common on Earth, uses the power of microorganisms to extract useful minerals and metals from solid rocks. The biorock study is the first to examine how microbes grow and alter planetary rocks in microgravity and conditions that simulate the gravity of Mars.

Safe combustion experiments

One of the tasks of the International Space Station crew is to operate and maintain scientific hardware. In the image above, NASA astronaut Jessica Meir works on the Combustible Integrated Rack (CIR), a device that can conduct combustion experiments in microgravity. The CIR, along with facilities such as the Microgravity Science Glovebox, creates a strong and safe environment in which astronauts can conduct combustion research without being put in danger.

This particular flame was one of many ignited as part of a "flame design" study conducted within CIR to study the amount of smoke produced under different conditions. The yellow spots are soot clusters that glow yellow when hot. These clusters are larger in microgravity than on Earth because the soot remains in the flame longer.

Every cell is working hard to adapt to space

NASA astronaut Andrew Morgan uses the Multi-use Variable-g Platform (MVP, the Multi-use Variable-g Platform) conducts research on the space station to understand how organisms adapt to the space environment, which is an important part of future space exploration. The platform can study a wide variety of small organisms, including fruit flies, flatworms, plants, fish, cells, protein crystals and more.

Busy Bee

Canadian Space Agency (CSA) astronaut David Saint Jacques is working with a free-flying spacecraft named Bumble Astrobee, a small cube-shaped robot, works together on the space station. Astrobee consists of three independent free-flying robots (Bumble, Honey and Queen) and a docking station. Since GPS is not easy to use in space, Astrobees rely on a camera-based positioning system, which is driven by a fan and can move freely in any direction.

Essential spacewalk

NASA astronaut Andrew Morgan waved as he repaired the cosmic particle detector during his first spacewalk. He appeared to be standing on between the Alpha Electromagnetic Spectrometer (AMS-02) and other space station hardware. AMS provides data to hundreds of researchers around the world, helping them figure out mysteries such as what the universe is made of and how it began. Due to its exposure to the harsh space environment, AMS needs upgrades to continue collecting data.

"Brother, it's arranged!"

Perfect timing for photography

Students participating in the "Sally Ride EarthKAM" project will catch up with Japan Aerospace Research and Development Agency's (JAXA) HTV-8 cargo spacecraft, this is the perfect time to carry science and supplies to the space station. "Sally Ride EarthKAM" is an educational program established by Sally Ride, the first American woman in space. It is remotely programmed by middle school students and allows students to photograph and analyze our Earth from the perspective of a space station. Students can take photos of the Earth's mountains, rivers, and other interesting geographical locations and landforms by controlling a special digital camera on the space station. The magnificent work pictured above is from the Sally Ride EarthKAM project.

Only play Lego? So weak!

The two football-sized guys in the picture who look a bit like Lego robots are not simple. Their full name is "Synchronized Positioning, Execution and Redirection Test Satellite", that is, SPHERES-Synchronized Position Hold , Engage, Reorient, Experimental Satellites, NASA flight engineer astronaut Alexander Skvortsov and astronaut Andrew Morgan are floating in the space station with the spherical robot SPHERES, which is responsible for small spacecraft Technology is tested. The astronauts are running code from SPHERES "Zero Robotics" 2019 middle school summer program participants. The project tests student-developed algorithms and selects the best design from a competition to operate robots on the space station.

Keep in touch even in space!

During an International Space Station amateur radio conference, NASA astronaut Nick Hague was floating in the "Columbus" experimental module from Europe. He used the International Space Station call sign "NA1SS ". The ISS Ham radio program provides students with the opportunity to communicate directly via radio with astronauts in orbit.

Conclusion

The above are just a few of the many scientific research currently being conducted in the International Space Station laboratory. From growing leafy greens in microgravity, to analyzing mining microbes, to testing autonomous robots, this research can both benefit people on Earth and lay the foundation for future human space exploration.

On January 8, 2020, the China Manned Space Engineering Office announced that the China Space Station system has completed the production of test prototypes and is conducting final assembly integration testing.

The overall name of China's manned space station is "Tiangong", and the names of each cabin and cargo spacecraft are as follows: the core module is named "Tianhe", code-named "TH"; the experimental module I is named "Wentian", code-named "WT"; the experimental module is named "Wentian", code-named "WT"; The cabin II is named "Xiantian" and code-named "XT"; the cargo spacecraft is named "Tianzhou" and code-named "TZ".

Tiangong, Tianhe, Wentian, Xantian, Tianzhou, just looking at these names will make people's blood boil.

One day, Chinese scientists will be able to carry out rich scientific research in China’s own space station, using the unique power of the space environment to benefit mankind through wisdom and hard work.

Let us *** look forward to that day together!

Reference:

https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/news/2019-space-station-research-in-pictures