According to the China Manned Space Engineering Office, tiangong-2 space laboratory has completed all expansion tests. It is planned to select an aircraft to be controlled off orbit and re-enter the atmosphere on Friday, that is, July 19. It is expected that a small amount of unburned debris will fall into the predetermined area of the South Pacific.
On the occasion of parting, let's recall the flying trip of Tiangong II and witness its final 'brilliance'!
Part.1
'Erya' and 'Daya'
Tiangong-2, loved by netizens as' Erya ', is China's first real space laboratory. It seems unfair to say so to 'Daya'. We can't help asking, what is Tiangong No. 1 'Daya'?
Schematic diagram of on orbit flight of Tiangong-1 target aircraft (source: Uncover 'space')
To understand this, we must first understand what a space laboratory is. Space laboratory, as its name implies, is an experimental spacecraft for the development of space station and the transition from manned spacecraft to manned Aerospace infrastructure. In other words, many new technologies and equipment need to carry out various experiments and tests before completing the short-term flight and carrying out the medium and long-term flight, and the space laboratory was born for this purpose.
Can 'Da Ya' be regarded as a space laboratory? Friends familiar with spacecraft have probably heard that Tiangong-1 'Daya' is called the target aircraft. That is, the aircraft that provides passive targets for space rendezvous and docking experiments. As a 'tracking vehicle', Shenzhou series spacecraft will actively approach the target vehicle 'Daya' after entering orbit, and then complete the space rendezvous and docking test.
Schematic diagram of Tiangong-1 docking with Shenzhou-8 (source: Uncover 'space')
Tiangong-1 'Daya' and Shenzhou-8, shenzhou-9 and shenzhou-10 have conducted short rendezvous, docking and joint flights, but the main purpose of these tasks is to consolidate and master space rendezvous and docking technology, rather than conducting space experiments. Therefore, although Tiangong-1 is known as China's first space laboratory, it is called "target aircraft" more often because it focuses on space rendezvous and docking.
Tiangong-1 main body (source: Uncover 'space')
What about 'Erya'? On September 15, 2016, tiangong-2 space laboratory was launched by long march-2f carrier rocket from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center. This day coincides with the Mid Autumn Festival. Erya, who left home during the Mid Autumn Festival, was improved and developed on the basis of Tiangong-1 backup target aircraft. It has a total length of 10.4 meters, a maximum diameter of 3.35 meters, a solar wing wingspan of about 18.4 meters, a weight of 8.6 tons and a design in orbit life of 2 years.
Tiangong two space laboratory (source: China Aerospace Science and technology group WeChat official account)
Erya has three major missions in space, namely, astronauts' medium-term stay, propellant replenishment in orbit and on orbit maintenance technology test. In space, Erya has carried out 14 scientific experimental missions, which is the largest number of application projects in China's manned space missions. Therefore, tiangong-2 is well-known as the space laboratory.
Part.2
"Erya" and "shierlang"
On October 17, 2016, one month after Erya flew into the sky, the Shenzhou 11 manned spacecraft, shishiro, caught up with space. The astronauts Jing Haipeng and Chen Dong are the same as the "11 Lang". This is the third time that the astronaut Jing Haipeng has carried out a space mission.
On October 19, 2016, 'Erya' and 'shierlang' successfully joined hands to realize space rendezvous and docking. Subsequently, Jing Haipeng and Chen Dong settled in tiangong-2 space laboratory and began their 30 day stay in space. In order to make the astronauts live comfortably and at ease, 'Erya' took no less effort.
Let's take a look at the structure of tiangong-2 space laboratory. Tiangong II adopts a two module configuration, which is divided into resource module and experimental module. The resource module is a non closed structure, which provides energy and power for space flight; The experimental module is a sealed module, which mainly provides a clean manned environment and activity space with appropriate temperature and humidity for astronauts to live in space.
The 'resource module' is placed vertically on the right and the 'experimental module' is placed horizontally on the left
In order to make the astronauts live more convenient and comfortable, in the limited combined space of the experimental module and Shenzhou 11 spacecraft, great attention is paid to the internal decoration, the planning of the activity space in the module, the visual environment and lighting, and the waste disposal, item management and wireless video communication are also convenient and practical. Let's take a look at some intimate details:
Deployable multifunctional small platform: This is the first time this small platform has been used in space missions. Astronauts can use it to write, eat and do experiments. Is it very practical?!
Bluetooth headset and Bluetooth Audio: although it is equipped for communication and emergency, it does not prevent astronauts from using them for entertainment, listening to songs and so on.
Intimate interior: the color is used to distinguish the floor and ceiling for astronauts, while the wall is soft beige. At the same time, the opinions of astronauts who have been active in the 'Daya' with soft inner wall are adopted, and the carpet is replaced with hard material floor, so that the astronauts can save more effort when they are active in the 'Erya'.
Humanized lighting: the light color of the cabin is beige, and the brightness can be adjusted manually, which improves the comfort of daylighting. At the same time, bedside lamps are installed for each astronaut, warm and warm.
Internal structure of China Tiangong two space laboratory (source: WeChat official account of China Aerospace Science and Technology Group)
During the hand-in-hand flight, the astronauts in Erya also realized the Chinese man-machine cooperative on orbit maintenance task for the first time. Jing Haipeng and Chen Dong realized the space fine operation manipulator through interactive software and data gloves, and established a man-machine cooperative on orbit maintenance system, which also accumulated a technical foundation for the development of humanoid robots in the future space station.
The astronauts carried out the maintenance technology experiment of man-machine cooperative on orbit manipulator
In the 30 days when Erya and shierlang joined hands, they completed the assessment of relevant technologies such as crew life, health and work support for medium and long-term flight, carried out experiments in aerospace medicine and space science, and verified technologies such as on orbit maintenance and space station orbital rendezvous and docking. On November 18, 2016, Shenzhou 11 spacecraft successfully completed its mission and took astronauts Jing Haipeng and Chen Dong home safely. So far, 'Erya' has completed another major mission.
Interaction between Shenzhou 11 and Tiangong 2 microblog account (source: Shenzhou 11 microblog)
Part.3
'Erya's' express brother'
On April 20, 2017, the tianzhou-1 cargo spacecraft, another little partner of Erya, was launched from Hainan Wenchang space launch site by the Long March 7 carrier rocket. The 'express brother' is China's first cargo spacecraft, with a total length of 10.6 meters, a maximum diameter of 3.35 meters and a total weight of 13 tons. It is China's largest and heaviest spacecraft at present.
Tiangong two and Tian Zhou 1 (source: China Aerospace Science and technology group WeChat official account)
Two days after the launch, tiangong-2 and tianzhou-1 made their first rendezvous and docking and formed a combined flight. From April 23 to 27, the propellant was automatically transported from tianzhou-1 to tiangong-2 by using the pressure difference between tiangong-2 and tianzhou-1 fuel storage tanks, and the first supplement experiment of propellant was successfully carried out. This not only greatly prolongs the service life of tiangong-2, but also makes China the second country in the world to achieve on orbit propellant addition in space.
Propellant supplementation test was made on Tiangong two (left) and Tian Zhou 1 (right) (source: China Aerospace Science and technology group WeChat official account).
After tiangong-2 and tianzhou-1 completed the second supplementary propellant test in orbit, the assembly was separated, and the 'express brother' began the flight around test, flying around from 5 km backward to 5 km forward of Erya. The 'action' was like a graceful dance step, not only did the 'express brother' beautifully complete the yaw 180 & deg; 'Erya' also completed 180 & deg; The two spacecraft kept facing each other for half a circle.
Map of the crossing between Tiangong two and Tian Zhou I (source: China Aerospace Science and technology group WeChat official account)
Part.4
What is the significance of space flight around rendezvous and docking?
China has conducted so many space rendezvous and docking, why should it conduct such a space circumnavigation rendezvous and docking alone?
This is because China's future space station will consist of many docking segments. Among them, the node module in the core module is responsible for connecting other modules together. The node module has five pairs of interfaces, facing five directions respectively. Therefore, each segment on other segments needs to fly around the node module to all directions, and then rendezvous and docking. The second round flight rendezvous and docking between tiangong-2 and tianzhou-1 was an experiment for this purpose, which consolidated the multi-directional space rendezvous technology of spacecraft.
After the second 'breakup', Erya and express brother flew independently.
Until September 12, tiangong-2 and tianzhou-1 successfully conducted the autonomous rapid rendezvous and docking test, and the whole process took only 6.5 hours. The independent rapid rendezvous and docking test can not only shorten the residence time of future astronauts in small manned spacecraft and save physical strength and energy, but also quickly deliver scientific research supplies, especially some biological agents and other goods that cannot undergo long-term transportation to the space station, and in case of emergency, Rapid rendezvous and docking can achieve rapid repair and emergency rescue. In other words, get to this skill, the safety and comfort of space flight will be more guaranteed!
After the Tianzhou mission, Erya began to walk alone in space and continue to carry out expansion experiments. " The design life of Erya tiangong-2 space laboratory is 2 years. Up to now, it has been in orbit for more than 1000 days. The platform and load functions normally and are in good condition. The preparations for controlled re-entry into the atmosphere are progressing steadily. On Friday, tiangong-2, which successfully completed its expected mission and all expansion tests, will choose an opportunity to leave orbit and return to earth.
With the disappearance of Tiangong-1, tianzhou-1 and the falling tiangong-2, the Chinese space station will take over the next stick in the future development of China's manned spaceflight. So we don't say goodbye, just wait for the future.
Welcome home, Tiangong two.