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SCIO press briefing on China's space laboratory mission

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Speakers:
Wang Zhaoyao, Director of China Manned Space Agency
Yang Baohua, Vice President of China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation
Zhao Guangheng, Chief Designer of the Space Utilization System
Sun Jun, Deputy Director of Beijing Aerospace Control Center

Chairperson:
Xi Yanchun, vice director-general of the Press Bureau, State Council Information Office

Date:
April 28, 2017

China Daily:

I have a question for Mr. Zhao Guangheng. In this Tianzhou 1 flight mission, what payloads are arranged in the space application system? What specific experiments have been carried out? Thank you.

Zhao Guangheng:

The space application system has arranged scientific experiments and technical tests, including research on the effects of microgravity on cell proliferation and differentiation, research on key technologies of the two-phase system experimental platform, verification of key technologies for non-Newtonian gravitational experiments and verification of key technologies of active vibration isolation. The Chinese Academy of Sciences, domestic research institutes and universities in both the mainland and Hong Kong are among the 12 research teams that are participating. The research on effects of microgravity on cell proliferation and differentiation covers the effects of microgravity on the proliferation and differentiation of stem cells and the cellular structure and function. Eight studies have been carried out in the international forefront of this research area. We are looking forward to gaining deeper understanding of the rules of the proliferation and differentiation of some cells under microgravity, such as embryonic stem cells, liver stem cells, pluripotent stem cells, bone cells and osteoblasts. These results could be useful in the field of stem cell tissue engineering, regenerative medicine, human reproduction and the prevention and intervention of bone loss both on the ground and in the space. After loading into orbit, the experiment has begun its scheduled 30-day operation and is progressing smoothly. This is the first project.

The second is research on key technologies of the two-phase system experimental platform. We are mainly seeking to create a technical foundation for solving the engineering difficulties of space-efficient heat transfer, for exploring the enforcement mechanism of spacephase-change heat transfer, for verifying the key technologies of the two-phase system, for research into evaporation and condensation under a microgravity environment, for further understanding the effects of gravity on the phase-change heat transfer and mass transfer and also for the further experiments and engineering applications.

The third is the verification of key technologies for non-Newtonian gravitational experiment. This project is mainly to carry out in-orbit tests on the performance of high precision electrostatic suspension accelerometer. The accelerometer performance index has reached the international advanced level, which will provide important technical support for our country to carry out research of basic space physics, weak force measurement and gravity gradient measurement.

The fourth is the verification of key technologies of active vibration isolation. This project is mainly to make in-orbit verification of the key technology of active vibration isolation for maglev. It will be able to increase the aircraft platform-provided microgravity level one to two orders of magnitude, to meet the needs of this mission and high microgravity experiments in the future.

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