Not long ago, three astronauts from Shenzhou-17 returned to the ground, and they returned with them, as well as the experimental materials exposed outside the space station. In the past few days, 71 extravehicular exposure experimental devices and scientific experiment samples have been sent to the Lanzhou Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences for analysis and research.
It is understood that in spacecraft, space station and other space facilities, the role of lubricants is very large, such as the deployment and retraction of the solar wings, as well as the rotation of the antenna system, etc., lubricating materials are needed, which can extend the service time of the spacecraft. While these materials are also being vacuumed on the ground, some environments in space cannot be fully simulated on the ground.
Wang Desheng, researcher at Lanzhou Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences: The environmental factors of space science experiments include ultra-high vacuum, high and low temperature alternation, and the other is the space irradiation environment, which mainly includes microgravity and some space irradiation, especially some studies on the damage law of atomic oxygen irradiation to lubricating thin film materials.
In addition to exposure experiments, dynamic friction experiments were also carried out in space, and through ball disc tribology experiments and bearing experiments, it was actually verified whether the lubricating materials could withstand the test in the real space environment.
Next, the researchers will analyze these space-exposed experimental materials in the laboratory to provide technical reserves for the future development of lubricating materials with longer life and higher reliability.
Column Editor-in-Chief: Qin Hong Text Editor: Dong Siyun
Source: Author: CCTV News