Scientific projects on China's space station yield significant results

Scientific projects on China's space station yield significant results
by Simon Mansfield
Sydney, Australia (SPX) Apr 25, 2024

The China Manned Space Agency (CMSA) has completed over 130 scientific research and application projects aboard its space station, reporting significant advancements, according to a recent press conference.

Lin Xiqiang, the deputy director of the CMSA, noted that more than 300 scientific experiment samples have been successfully returned to Earth by astronauts in five separate missions.

Participation in these projects has included over 500 scientific research institutes both within China and internationally, contributing to substantial developments in areas such as space life science, space medicine, materials science in space, and microgravity fluid physics. This collaboration has resulted in over 280 research papers being published in top-tier international journals.

The ongoing analysis and application of the findings from these space experiments are expected to continue yielding new scientific and technological advancements, as well as potential economic benefits, Lin emphasized.

One notable achievement includes the synthesis of high-quality crystal materials in space within a high-temperature scientific experiment cabinet. These materials are challenging to produce on Earth and are crucial for developing high-performance semiconductor alloys.

Further, the use of a biotechnology experimental cabinet has enabled basic biological research on human osteocytes, which has led to novel approaches for addressing bone-related health issues such as fractures, spinal injuries, muscular atrophy, and metabolic disorders.

Additionally, the country's inaugural in-orbit test of Stirling thermoelectric conversion was conducted using a space technology basic test cabinet. This test achieved thermoelectric conversion efficiency levels comparable to international standards, setting a solid foundation for future applications in space power systems.

Moreover, several space medical experiments have been carried out, leading to significant new medical insights and innovations.

As China's space station continues to operate as a national space laboratory, it is expected to make further substantial contributions to the fields of space science, technology, and applications, thereby enhancing technological capabilities across related industries, Lin stated.

Based on a Xinhua News Agency article