Scientists whose experiments in materials, life, astrophysical and space environmental sciences said that their experiments on Shenzhou-2 (SZ-2, Shenzhou means "Magic Vessel") had made key breakthroughs.

The announcement, however, only made brief reference to the scientific disciplines where breakthroughs occured without providing much details.

Some experiments returned to Earth in the Descent Module, which landed in Inner Mongolia on Jan. 16 at 7:22 p.m. Beijing Time (Jan. 16 11:22 UTC). Other experiments, such as the ones in astrophysical and space environment studies, remained aboard the Orbital Module. These experiments may still be functional as the Orbital Module continues to circle the Earth.

After 176 days 7 hours in space, SZ-2 Orbital Module is in an orbit of 307.3 x 332.9 km inclined at 42.6 deg and a period of 90.9 minutes. The present orbit is much lower than the initial orbit of about 400 km since its separation from the Descent Module.

It is not known whether the announcement on Wednesday may signal an end to the remaining active experiments and maintenance of the spacecraft's orbital altitude.

The announcement also appears to finally dismiss any doubts that the SZ-2 Descent Module may have been damaged on landing and whether any returned experiments survived. Lack of post-landing news and photos release had fuelled such a speculation.

After analyzing samples of metal alloys and compounds, space material scientists concluded that their design of the multi-chamber crystal growth furnace and the associated technologies achieved a breakthrough development, which raised microgravity study of materials to a higher level.

In the life sciences experiments, scientists reported that the centrifuge of the biological incubator and the illumination and temperature control of the incubator functioned nominally during the mission. Scientists pointed out that this was a sign of maturity in life science experiment design, methodology and technology.

Scientists have also been receiving data from the astrophysical and space environment experiments, which store the collected data on board and transmits it back to Earth when the Orbital Module makes an overpass of a ground station in China.

The space environment experiment gave scientists a detailed mass spectral map of the atmospheric composition and density data, and a distribution map of the diurnal variation of the global atmospheric density.

The three high-energy radiation detectors in the astrophysics experiment obtained complete light curves and energy spectra of high temporal resolution of several gamma-ray bursts (GRBs).

Astronomers uncovered that the detectors recorded photons of super-soft x-rays, hard x-rays and gamma-rays. The information will allow astronomers to see the evolution of high-energy radiation and temporal structure of the engimatic phenomenon.

Astronomers described that the fine results of the experiment was an important breakthrough in gamma-ray astronomy in China.

According to the astronomers the three domestically built high-energy radiation detectors, which include a soft x-ray gas proportional counter, a hard x-ray scintillation detector and a soft gamma-ray detector, reached an international level compared to other similar instruments.

SZ-2 lifted off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre (JSLC) in the northwestern Gansu Province aboard a Changzheng-2F (Long March-2F) rocket, which made its second flight, on Jan. 10 at 1 a.m. Beijing Time (Jan. 9 17:00 UTC).

In addition to conducting a collection of multidisciplinary science experiments and continue testing various spacecraft subsystems, particularly the environment control and life protection systems, the mission has demonstrated that China is capable of maintaining an orbiting platform for an extended period.

Such a capability is an important step towards China's eventual goal of establishing its own permanent manned presence in space.

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