Borisov also said that the plan to increase the number of Russian artificial satellites in space from the current 200 to 1,000 by 2030.

There are only two space stations in operation in the world, one is the International Space Station built by the United States, Russia and six other Western space agencies, the participating national agencies are NASA, the European Space Agency, the Russian Federal Space Agency, the Canadian National Space Agency, the Japanese Space Research Agency and the Brazilian Space Agency, the other is China’s independent construction of the Chinese Tiangong space station.

The post Russia: plans to build its own space station in 2027, showing final appearance in April this year appeared first on TechGoing.

ESA (European Space Agency) commander Samantha Cristoforetti (Samantha Cristoforetti) will lead the station’s operations for the next approximately two weeks until she and other crew members Kjell Lindgren (Kjell Lindgren), Bob Hines (Bob Hines) and Jessica -(Jessica Watkins) returned to Earth aboard the SpaceX Dragon Freedom crew ship. The foursome has been on the space station since April 27. They spent the day Friday checking their pressure suits, packing their personal belongings and reviewing departure and landing procedures.

Expedition 67 flight engineers (from left) Jessica Watkins, Bob Hines and Frank Rubio, three NASA astronauts, pose for a photo inside the International Space Station’s “Window on the World.

The station’s crew is awaiting a replacement from SpaceX Crew-5, which is currently scheduled to launch no earlier than noon EDT Wednesday, Oct. 5. Koichi Wakata and Anna Kikina of the Russian space agency Roscosmos, will arrive at the station a day after the launch aboard Endeavour’s Dragon spacecraft. They will spend a few days acclimating to life in orbit before Christofreddy and her three Freedom crewmembers will end their mission and return to Earth.

Meanwhile, NASA’s first-time space flier Frank Rubio is in his second week as a flight engineer on the orbiting laboratory, having arrived Sept. 21 with fellow flight engineers Sergei Prokopiev and Dmitry Petrin, both cosmonauts from the Russian space agency, on board the Soyuz MS-22 crew ship. 22 crew ship arrived at the space station.

Rubio conducted smart glass optics research this weekend, exploring how artificial intelligence can be used to adapt material fabrication, such as fiber optic materials, to the vacuum of space. He exchanged and observed glass fiber samples pulled inside a microgravity science glove box. Petrin and Prokopiev collaborated with Petrin on a study exploring how microgravity affects the heart and blood vessels.

The post Expedition 68 mission begins on Space Station, SpaceX is planning a crew swap appeared first on TechGoing.

After completing 22 successful space missions, it has successfully taken 31 people into space and ordinary civilians can now reserve their seats on its website. 2021, Bezos has upped the ante by partnering with Sierra Space to build a commercial space station called Orbital Reef.

This ambitious project aims to create a “mixed-use space business park” to meet the needs of anything from media companies and entrepreneurs to investors and inventors. In doing so, it opens the orbital reef to many game-changing uses. However, the scale of the project has bigger implications than simply taking tourists into space, so Bezos is already planning to bring it to fruition many years in advance.

Jeff Bezos’ space station will no longer be in the concept stage, as NASA has just given it the green light. NASA already sees Blue Origin and Sierra Space as among the top candidates to replace the International Space Station, and now it’s putting more faith in Bezos’ bold space station plans. In a press statement, Sierra Space announced that Orbital Reef was successful in NASA’s system definition review and that it was deemed feasible and achievable enough to move into the design phase. This puts it at the doorstep of the most profound industrial revolution in human history, said Tom Wise, CEO of Sierra Space.

Orbital Reef is not just about space tourism, as its microgravity factories and services have the potential to revolutionize every industry. With Orbital Reef, the company claims anyone has the opportunity to have their own address in space. When Bezos’ space station was first announced, it had a large window of time that led us to believe it might not be ready until at least 2030. Sierra Space, on the other hand, expects Orbital Reef to be operational as soon as 2027. When it does, though, we can only hope that its final design won’t be as problematic as Blue Origin’s rocket.

The post Amazon Jeff Bezos space station is closer to reality than you think appeared first on TechGoing.

At 10:03 on the 25th, the Shenzhou XIV astronaut crew group successfully opened the door to ask the sky experiment module, smoothly into the sky experiment module. This is the first time Chinese astronauts in orbit into the scientific experiment module.

Ask the sky experiment module is the second module of the Chinese space station, is also the first scientific experiment module. What are the moving details before and after the launch? What are the technical breakthroughs in the “new home” of China’s space home?

Millimeter “calculations”, to create a larger and stronger space “new home”

“Ask the sky experiment module is the space station family of large, the total length of the module 17.9 meters, the launch weight of 23 tons, is China’s heaviest, the size of the largest single vehicle, powerful, complex structure, advanced indicators.” Zhang Hao, the overall director-designer of the space station system of the Aisino Science and Technology Group’s Fifth Institute, was introduced.

“Bigger, stronger, more comprehensive, better, more detailed” – in order to make the Asking Sky Experiment Module achieve such goals, the design and development team united to overcome a series of process bottlenecks, developed a number of key technologies, and finally was able to ensure that the Asking Sky Experiment Module high-quality delivery, successful Launch.

A mockup of the Qtian Experiment Module (Photo provided by the Fifth Academy of Space Science and Technology Group)

The working module in the Qtian Experiment Module is the largest manned sealed spacecraft module in China at present, with a module segment length of nearly 10 meters. In order to ensure the normal operation of the load installed outside the cabin, the interface precision of the 72 equipment brackets outside the cabin is very high. But it is because of the “big size”, the precision interface size on the module structure is also magnified by the influence of temperature, resulting in large measurement errors in the process of bracket installation.

At the same time, the current large capsule development using the plant space, product development cycle is long, to achieve a long time constant temperature environment in the plant is very difficult. To this end, Zhao Changxi, chief engineer of manned spaceflight field in 529 Factory of Space Science and Technology Group, led a team to ingeniously propose a virtual constant temperature measurement method, relying on the principle of mathematical matrix calculation, so that the measurement links susceptible to temperature are reliable and stable, and finally realize the high precision of the bracket assembly, successfully carve out a precise shape for the large body of the Asking Sky Experiment Module, and ensure the high reliability of the load outside the Asking Sky Experiment Module work.

The airlock module is one of the most important components of the experiment module, and is the main exit route for future astronauts. However, to weld the exit hatch on the column section of the module, it posed a problem for the developers. Most of the previous models at the hatch for the regular plane curve welding, welding thickness of only 2 mm, while the location of this hatch welding in a saddle-shaped space surface, welding thickness also increased to 5 mm, the traditional manual welding has been unable to meet the requirements. After repeated research tests and a large number of process tests, the Space Science and Technology Group Five Institute developers proposed a new automated welding technology for space curves, independently developed a flexible changeable welding tooling, the successful completion of the sealing hatch door frame welding, all indicators meet the design requirements.

It is the nearly demanding pursuit of perfection, to create a better quality space home.

Precise and accurate, escorting the space station “all-clear”

The Chinese space station consists of a core module and two experimental modules, the launch of these three modules are carried out by the long five B rocket. 29 April 2021, the long five B rocket successfully launched the core module of Tianhe, the opening battle of the construction of the space station. A year later, the Long5B development team was once again in charge of the “arrow” for the launch of the Sky Experiment Module.

Lou Luliang, the deputy chief designer of the aerospace science and technology group a Dean V B rocket, said, the long five B launch of the Sky module, is China’s first large low-temperature rocket to perform rendezvous and docking tasks, “zero window” launch of the rocket’s carrying capacity, into the orbit accuracy and launch reliability have raised higher requirements. Around the mission characteristics, the development team spent a year to complete more than 30 full-arrow flight reliability improvement work.

Lou Luliang said rendezvous and docking is like “threading the needle” in space, in order to more accurately and reliably complete the task, the Long Five B team in optimizing the pre-launch process, expand the launch window and enhance the launch capacity to seek breakthroughs.

The team first adjusted the interlocking workflow of each system from “series” to “parallel”, allowing 2 minutes and 30 seconds for troubleshooting before rocket ignition. Then, “the launch window was widened to 2 minutes and 30 seconds by using “takeoff time correction technology” to meet the requirements of orbit entry accuracy, so that even if the rocket did not launch exactly according to the scheduled window, orbit entry and rendezvous and docking could be completed accurately within this time through later orbit correction.

The team also increased the launch capacity of the Long 5B rocket to no less than 23 tons. However, the difficulty of precise orbiting with a large thrust rocket also becomes greater, which is like stopping a car at high speed with a single kick of the brakes. The “high thrust direct orbit accuracy control technology” and the 20.5-meter-large fairing unique to the L-5B rocket allow the space station module to safely reach its intended orbit.

“Just like an eye can not get into the sand, a small excess may have disastrous consequences for rocket launch and docking.” Liu Bing, deputy director general designer of the Aero-Technology Group I Dean VB rocket, said that in order to ensure the successful rendezvous and docking of the interrogation module, the Long VB team strictly controlled the rocket redundancy through technical communication and analysis and demonstration to minimize the impact on the module docking.

In addition, this year, the L5B team also carried out the future planning and demonstration work of this type of rocket. The team systematically sorted through the data from the previous seven flights and shortened the original 60-day launch preparation time to about 53 days to prepare for subsequent high-density launch missions.

Witnessing the successful launch of the experimental module, the L-5B team was relieved of its heavy burden for the time being. But as they said, “We can only be happy for two hours after each successful launch.” Mengtian Experiment Module launch is coming, they once again carry the heavy responsibility.

From “heavenly questions” to “ask the sky”, the relentless pursuit of space remains unchanged

On July 23, 2020, the Long March 5 remote 4 rocket lifted the Tianqian 1 Mars probe, taking an important step in exploring the vastness of the universe and opening up the era of planetary exploration for the Chinese.

From “Heavenly Question” to “Ask the Sky”, the two launches are exactly two years and one day apart. From the exploration of the planets to the construction of China’s own space station, two years, the astronauts never stop moving forward, planetary exploration project, lunar exploration project, manned space engineering to dream of space one after another, out of a “sky” road.

From “the sky” to “ask the sky”, the word “ask” reveals their common connotation – to explore and ask questions. The “ask” word reveals their common connotation – exploration and questioning. Ask the Sky Experiment Module is not only the astronauts’ “new home” in space, but also carries the important mission of space science research.

As part of the “National Space Laboratory”, the QSTEM will mainly conduct life science and biotechnology research. At present, ask the sky experiment module in space life sciences and biotechnology, microgravity fluid physics, space materials science, space applications of new technology experiments and other four areas of direction planning the deployment of more than 10 research themes, has established more than 40 scientific projects.

Zhang Lu, researcher of the Space Application Center of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, deputy director of the Center for Integrated Technology, introduced China’s second step in manned spaceflight “three steps” period, in Tiangong 1, Tiangong 2 carried out a variety of types of scientific experiments, is based on a single experimental project, experimental samples do not have the ability to replace and demand. Now, entering the space station phase, scientific experiments will be shifted from a single scattered to large-scale group type, in space to build a real scientific laboratory. The scientific experiment cabinet configured in the capsule is the common basic platform for conducting a variety of scientific experiments.

Ask the four scientific experiment cabinets in the sky experiment module. (Photo provided by China Manned Space Engineering Office and Chinese Academy of Sciences)

“In addition to individual experimental cabinets, most of the experimental cabinets have all unified external interfaces, and the interfaces of the internal loads are made into national standards, which are very convenient for maintenance and replacement. At the same time, the experimental cabinets can also be compatible with international standards, ready for subsequent international cooperation.” Zhang Lu said.

In the future, the space station will also carry out 65 research programs in four major fields, including space life science and human research, microgravity physical science, space astronomy and earth science, and new space technology and applications, including nearly 1,000 research projects.

Wang Ke, deputy director of the space application system and director of the Integrated Technology Center of the Space Application Center of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, said, “The completion of the space station is just the beginning of China’s space science research. Subsequently, universities, research institutes and school and university students across the country can participate in space science experiments on the space station. We also welcome researchers from all over the world to use our platform to conduct scientific research together.”

The post How is the “new home” in space built? appeared first on TechGoing.

The biotechnology experimental cabinet takes biological samples such as animal tissues, cells and biochemical molecules as objects to carry out experiments on cell tissue culture, space protein crystallization and analysis, protein and nucleic acid co-origin and space biomechanics, which will be explored at the frontiers of the origin of life, innovative biomaterials, drugs and medical technology, and will be important for research on human health and other aspects.

Zhang Tao, head of the space life science instrumentation team at the Shanghai Institute of Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences: This cellular experiment system, it is composed of two major parts. One part is the cell tissue experiment module, there is another called the cell tissue detection and control module, it is through the pipeline to provide it with environmental protection, such as gas, and gas concentration control, including laser light source to provide.

It is reported that, because this is an experiment in a manned space station, and many experiments are operated by astronauts to play a role in threading the needle, so the safety requirements for the device is higher, and the operational design also requires simplicity.

Zhang Tao, head of the space life science instrumentation team at the Shanghai Institute of Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences: Our unit is easy to operate but reliable, and it mainly stores a variety of liquids, as well as different pump sets, and light sources. Optical microscope from the top to the bottom, you can see that the inside is filled with liquid. There is also a small circuit board, which is actually a core controller of the unit, and it will control the flow of the experiment after receiving instructions from the whole cabinet.

Ask the sky module outside the exposed load to carry out materials experiments

Reporters in the Chinese Academy of Sciences Space Applications Center also saw that the material extravehicular exposure experimental device has also been developed for the positive sample. At the end of this year with the Tianzhou V on board, will be installed by the astronauts through the robot arm in the sky outside the experimental module to start space experiments.

CCTV reporter Shuai Junquan: materials outside the cabin exposure experimental device was taken to space, will be in the experimental capsule outside the experiment, it is about 60 cm side length of a cube, and its front materials and materials after the experimental box in space will open, the material will be exposed to space so that a variety of scientific experiments.

The extravehicular exposure payload deputy director-designer, space applications center senior engineer Lv Hongyu: after unfolding, the future will be covered with active or passive materials to be done. The former material box has atomic oxygen, you can see this has a few holes, it can be measured to space atomic oxygen flux is how much, and then for the following to go to the reference.

There are also two small tribological experiment boxes designed on the side of the materials module exposure experiment unit, which can perform extra-vehicular experiments on solid lubricated and liquid gel lubricated materials. In addition, a real-time observation camera in orbit allows for real-time observation and in-situ inspection of sample morphology and characteristics with a microscope during the experiment, and experimental data can be downlinked in real-time for scientists to study.

The extravehicular exposure payload deputy director-designer, space applications center senior engineer Lv Hongyu: there are some new material characteristics, on the ground is not visible, in the extravehicular this high-temperature alternation, or that under the vacuum, in this atomic oxygen flux corrosion, it will reflect a new characteristic, this characteristic to our ground has no other benefits, is also we want to explore.

The post Explore the origin of life and other fields Chinese space station science experiment facilities and these amazing functions appeared first on TechGoing.

Not long ago, Beijing Space Flight Control Center issued phase transfer instructions to the space station assembly, ready for the visit of the Ask Sky Experiment Module. According to the plan, ask the sky experiment module will be launched this month in China Wenchang space launch site.

After ushering in the Ask Sky Experiment Module, astronauts will enter the module to start the life support system, complete the assembly of the science experiment cabinet and conduct cross-science experiments. The new space lectures will also be carried out in the Ask Sky Experiment Module, the astronauts will also choose the first time from the Ask Sky Experiment Module exit hatch.

In addition, the space station Mengtian Experiment Module also recently completed a successful thermal test in Tianjin. In accordance with the requirements of the vacuum thermal test outline, the Mengtian Experiment Module completed all the working conditions tests in turn, and in the test process interspersed with the sealed cabin harmful gas collection test and noise test. During the whole test process, the equipment on the cabin and ground test equipment of Dreamsky Experiment Module were working normally.

The post China’s space station module “Asking for the Sky” is scheduled for launch in July appeared first on TechGoing.