In the race for space, humanity comes first
Joy or surprise?
On April 8, the Shenzhou-17 manned space mission was successfully completed, and three astronauts landed on Earth on the returner. However, when the footage of the hatch opening was exposed, there was a heated discussion on the Internet again.
The camera recorded the scene of the astronauts leaving the capsule:
The door of the return hatch slowly opened, and first the stretcher was carefully moved in; The three astronauts were successively transferred from their seats to the stretchers by the staff; They lay on stretchers, looking slightly tired, and were carried out of the small hatch.
This practice is somewhat different from the way US astronauts "stepped out" of the space shuttle 40 years ago, and it cannot help but make people question: Is the mainland's space technology not as good as it was 40 or 50 years ago in key fields?
身体机能在太空中Reception
In fact, the difference in the way astronauts get out of the capsule does not simply represent the level of technology. Behind this is the trade-off between the physical condition and safety of the astronauts.
Living in space for a long time, astronauts' bones and muscles will deteriorate significantly, which is caused by the environmental influence of microgravity. Normally, the function of bones and muscles is maintained by gravity exercise. However, in weightlessness, they undergo the following changes:
Continued loss of bone mass, resulting in "osteoporosis"; Muscles are not effectively exercised, they are in a state of continuous atrophy, and their strength is greatly reduced.
It can be seen that astronauts are unable to walk directly when they leave the capsule, and forcibly descending the capsule is very likely to cause bone or muscle damage. To ensure their personal safety, it is better to choose to be carried out on a stretcher.
A return capsule cut off from Earth
Forty years ago, American astronauts were able to move freely as soon as the hatch was opened, because the space shuttle had a built-in atmosphere that allowed humans to walk normally.
In contrast, the re-entry capsule used by the mainland is a confined space completely isolated from the outside environment, and the interior lacks proper air. Astronauts must be transferred to a protected environment as soon as possible after leaving the capsule to prevent them from being exposed to the following conditions in space.
high-energy cosmic ray irradiation; drastic temperature changes; A series of hazards such as high-pressure and low-oxygen environment.
Compact design with human care
Of course, the difference in cabin structure design is also a reason for the different ways of exiting. The U.S. space shuttle at that time had a fuselage structure similar to that of a civil airliner, and its interior had relatively spacious activity space.
In order to achieve comprehensive miniaturization, the continental spacecraft has always adopted a more compact return capsule design, and the range of activities in the capsule is very limited, so that astronauts cannot directly disembark the capsule.
It can be seen that out of great importance to the health and safety of astronauts, the mainland's choice to use a stretcher to lift them out is not only reasonable, but also the only relatively reliable way to get out of the capsule.
Aerospace engineering infiltrated by humanized concepts
The forms are different, but the Chinese astronauts, like their foreign counterparts, have the same sincere enthusiasm for the motherland, and they are the most singable and weeping fighters in the space field.
In the future, with the continuous progress in the field of aerospace, the mainland's manned space project will surely provide more humane solutions that are more conducive to the physical and mental health of astronauts. But in any case, ensuring the safety of astronauts' lives is always the top priority, and any approach at the expense of human health is undesirable.
China's space industry will, as always, adhere to the high level of concern for human nature, and will never slacken its efforts to cherish and protect the lives of astronauts while constantly innovating. May the space fleet of the motherland move forward all the way and continue to write a new chapter of heroic and eternal life!
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