BEIJING, June 20 (Xinhua) -- The following is a summary of published science and technology news of China.

NEW FREIGHTER

China's homegrown TP500 unmanned freighter completed a successful maiden flight Saturday, announced the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC).

The freighter conducted a 27-minute maiden flight and performed smoothly during the whole flight, said the AVIC.

Developed by the AVIC First Aircraft Institute, the TP500 is the country's first large unmanned freighter produced under the Chinese Civil Aviation Regulation requirements, said the AVIC.

COATING FOR SPACECRAFT

Chinese scientists have developed a metallic-based thermal-control coating for the Shenzhou-14 crewed spaceship that will protect the taikonauts from extreme heat and cold during their six-month stay in orbit.

The new coating works in two ways: providing low solar absorption to help reduce the sun's effect on the spacecraft's interior temperature; and providing low infrared emittance to block heat release from internal sources.

COASTAL SINGING SANDS

Chinese scientists have discovered an area of "singing sands" on the tropical island province of Hainan, the first time the strange auditory phenomenon has been identified on the country's coastline.

According to the Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources under the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the discovery of singing sands on Hainan marks the first time that an area of Chinese coastline has displayed the phenomenon, and enhances the province's tourism potential.

Their study shows that the surface of the coastal sands has typical V-shaped craters formed by underwater mechanical etching, and deep dissolution craters formed by chemical etching. Enditem

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