The great significance and innovation of the Shenzhou-18 manned space mission
The Shenzhou-18 manned space mission is another milestone in China's manned space industry. This is the second manned mission in the application and development stage of China's space station, and it is also the 32nd launch mission since the implementation of the manned space project. This mission will not only promote the normalization of China's space station operation, but also carry out innovative experimental research in a number of cutting-edge scientific fields.
Introduction to the astronaut crew
The astronaut crew for this mission is composed of Ye Guangfu, Li Cong and Li Guangsu, and adopts the mode of "old with new". Ye Guangfu is a group of astronauts who have carried out the Shenzhou-13 mission before, and this time he is the commander, while Li Cong and Li Guangsu are a group of new astronauts who have made their first space flight. All three are post-80s, with a moderate age span and excellent professional skills.
Launch lift-off process
At 20:59 on April 25, 2024, the Shenzhou-18 manned spacecraft was successfully launched into space by the Long March-2F Yao-18 carrier rocket at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center. After about 10 minutes, the spacecraft separated from the rocket and entered a predetermined orbit. The astronaut crew was in good condition, and the launch was a complete success.
Subsequently, the Shenzhou-18 spacecraft adopted the autonomous fast rendezvous and docking mode, and docked with the radial port of the Tianhe core module after 6.5 hours, forming a space station combination of "three cabins and three ships" with the Tianhe core module, Wentian experimental module and Mengtian experimental module already in orbit.
Two astronaut crews will meet
At 3:32 on April 26, after the Shenzhou-18 crew successfully docked and entered the space station, it ushered in a rendezvous with the Shenzhou-17 crew, which has been in orbit for nearly 6 months. The two crews will work and live together on the space station for about five days, and after completing the scheduled work, the Shenzhou-17 crew will return to Earth on April 30 by spacecraft.
The Shenzhou-18 crew will stay on the space station for about six months to carry out space science experiments, astronaut out-of-cabin activities, space station maintenance and other tasks, so as to further improve the operation efficiency and application benefits of the space station. They will also welcome the Shenzhou-19 manned spacecraft and the Tianzhou-8 cargo spacecraft to support the construction and operation of the post-space station.
The uniqueness of special organisms, tardigrades, and fish samples and the purpose of the experiment
Known as the "strongest creatures on Earth", water bears can survive extreme environments such as vacuum, high radiation, extremely high and low temperatures, and even revive after 10 days of exposure in space. Shenzhou-18 will carry samples of tardigrades to space, aiming to study their adaptation mechanisms to the space environment such as microgravity and cosmic radiation.
The secret of the water bear's super survivability
The full name of tardigrades is tardigrade, which is small but tenacious. They can enter a "cryptophytic" state in extreme environments, where cells are almost completely dehydrated, their metabolism is reduced to a minimum, and they are "revived" when conditions are restored. Scientists have found that this is related to a "disordered protein" in the tardigrades, which builds a protective shell against other important proteins and DNA.
Water bears also have a unique DNA repair mechanism that repairs DNA damage caused by factors such as radiation. The study of these survival methods of water bears is expected to provide reference for human space exploration and life science research.
Can fish samples survive in space?
In addition to the tardigrades, Shenzhou-18 will also carry fish samples into space, which is the first time that China has "flown with fish". Scientists will build a small, confined living ecosystem in orbit with about 1 liter of water, 4-5 zebrafish, and some algae and microorganisms.
Researchers will observe the survival status and physiological changes of fish in a microgravity environment to assess whether fish can survive in space conditions. If it can survive, further research on its adaptation mechanism will provide a reference for long-term space survival in the future.
Experimental design and expected goals
Samples of tardigrades and fish will be placed in separate experimental setups. Water bears are exposed to vacuum and radiation, while fish are placed in small, confined aquatic ecosystems that mimic the Earth's environment.
By comparing the differences in their on-orbit performance, scientists hope to reveal their different response mechanisms to the space environment such as microgravity and radiation. The results of the experiment will provide important data for assessing the survivability of organisms in space, and will also promote the development of related life science fields.
The significance and future of space life science experiments
The Shenzhou-18 manned space mission is innovative and milestone in many aspects. One of the highlights of the mission was to carry out life science experiments with water bears and fish samples in space.
The innovative significance of this mission
This is the first time that China has carried out life science experiments in a manned space mission, marking a new stage in the mainland's space life science research. By studying the survival state and adaptation mechanism of organisms such as tardigrades and fish in the space environment, we will accumulate experience for long-term human space residency in the future.
This mission will also carry out space science experiments in other disciplines, involving materials, fluids, biomedicine and other fields, which will provide valuable microgravity environmental data for related basic research. These innovative attempts will greatly improve the scientific research and application value of China's space station.
The importance of life science research in space
Space life sciences are at the forefront of life science research today. In special environments such as microgravity, radiation, and confinement, organisms exhibit physiological responses that are very different from those of the earth, and studying these reaction mechanisms can help reveal the mysteries of the nature of life.
Space life science research will also provide theoretical support and technical reserves for the grand goals of long-term space residency and interplanetary navigation for mankind in the future. How to efficiently grow food, recycle renewable resources, and protect against radiation in space all require the support of space life science research.
Call on all sectors of society to support scientific exploration
Manned spaceflight is an important way for mankind to use space peacefully, and is an important embodiment of China's comprehensive strength and scientific and technological innovation capabilities. The successful implementation of a series of manned space missions such as Shenzhou-18 indicates that China's space industry is moving from following and running to leading.
We call on the whole society to pay more attention to and support the development of the aerospace industry, and support scientists to scale new heights and pursue excellence. Only by having the courage to innovate and explore can human beings write more wonderful in the vast universe. Let's look forward to more scientific discoveries made by the Shenzhou-18 crew in space!