China's space station has been a remarkable feat of engineering and innovation, operating smoothly and safely for over 1,000 days. This achievement is a testament to the country's self-reliance and independent scientific prowess. The station has hosted seven astronaut crews and facilitated numerous space science and application projects, showcasing China's capabilities in space exploration and research.
The interior of the space station is a bustling hub of activity. Astronauts engage in various physical activities, such as pull-ups using ceiling handrails, riding a space bicycle, and running on a treadmill. These exercises are crucial for maintaining muscle strength and counteracting the negative effects of long-term microgravity exposure on the human body.
Over the past decade, the station's environment and facilities have been continually enhanced. Regular deliveries of fitness equipment have contributed to the astronauts' well-being. Tang Yi, a researcher from the ground support team, highlights the station's advanced wireless communication technology, ensuring seamless communication inside and outside the cabin.
To improve the astronauts' sleep quality, the sleeping area's doors were upgraded with enhanced materials, structure, and locking mechanisms, providing better sound and light insulation. The space station also employs a unique team of AI crewmates, including the Wukong AI large language model, pipeline inspection robots, and Xiaohang robot, offering specialized support to astronauts in orbit.
Looking ahead, the team aims to introduce more advanced scientific and technological innovations in the next 1,000 days, further enhancing the station's intelligence and autonomy. This will enable the station to better support astronauts' work and life in space.
The space station serves as a platform for scientific applications, with daily experiments conducted by astronauts. They study the effects of microgravity on plant cell structures using Arabidopsis seedlings and investigate the impact of space on human brain health through brain organoid chip experiments.
Guo Xiaoxiao, deputy director of the application office, categorizes space science and application projects into three areas: scientific research in space life science, biotechnology, space materials science, microgravity physics, and new spacecraft technologies; emerging projects focused on innovation and frontier exploration; and application-oriented payload missions. The progress of these projects has been impressive, with some fundamental science results exceeding expectations.
Beyond the orbiting space station, China has established two additional 'space stations' on Earth. One is a ground-based replica, providing a technical validation platform for the station's design, construction, and in-orbit operation, crucial for the real space station's success. The other is a 'digital space station' that offers simulation and verification support through pre-mission, in-mission, and post-mission evaluations.
Together, these three systems form an integrated operational framework, ensuring the long-term, stable operation of China's space station. The ground support team maintains a 24/7 standby mode, handling data monitoring, trend analysis, mission support, and troubleshooting.
Looking forward, the space station's role as a 'space home port' will be explored, leveraging its unique advantages of abundant resources, continuous human presence, and high intelligence. By developing standardized service models and interfaces, the station will provide in-orbit services for various spacecraft, opening up even broader prospects for development.
