Progress on Microgravity Sciences in China

The main progress of the research activities on microgravity fluid physics, combustion, biotechnology research and fundamental Physics in China are briefly summarized in the present paper. The major space missions and experimental results obtained on board the Chinese recoverable/nonrecoverable satellites and the Chinese manned spaceship named "Shen Zhou" are presented summarily. The recent main activities of the ground-based studies in China are introduced in brief.     

空间站微重力流体实验设备需求分析

对国际空间站和中国科学实验卫星及载人飞行器上开展的微重力流体实验情况进行论述和分析,重点分析了国际空间站（ISS）微重力流体科学实验设备情况.根据中国空间微重力流体物理科学发展需求,结合国际空间站微重力流体科学实验对设备的需求,提出了未来在中国空间站开展微重力流体实验时空间实验设备需要重点考虑和解决的问题,同时提出相关设计建议.      

应用空间原子钟的基础物理测试

随着新型原子钟的发明,其频率稳定度性能已经发展到很高的水平,它们在空间科学试验中将发挥重要作用。这篇文章将介绍应用空间原子钟在微重力环境下所建议的某些基础物理方面的测试。     

Progress Report of Space Life Science in China

In the past two years, space life sciences research in China is characterized by a tendency toward integration of scientific and engineering resources in preparing and implementing advanced space programs. In the field of operational medicine, we carried out an international cooperated Head-Down Bed Rest (HDBR) experiment and investigated the effects of Chinese herbs compounds on astronaut's physiological functions. The effect of microgravity and its mechanisms were further studied from the level of physiology and biology. At the same time, state-level platform for ground and space experiment was established.      

Progress in Research on Materials Under Microgravity in China

Research on materials under microgravity in China began in the 1980s, sparked by Prof. Lanying Lin (academician of CAS), Prof. Xiji Wang (academician of CAS), Prof. Guirong Min (academician of CAS), and Prof. Huabao Lin (academician of CAS), and others. The first semiconductor crystal, first optical crystal, and first alloys were grown in space on board a recoverable satellite in 1987. Since then, microgravity materials science became a new scientific branch in China.Scientific and technical activities on space crystal growth and solidification are carried out through two major programs: ground-based studies and orbital experiments. The main results obtained during 2001-2003 are reported below.     

Space Materials Science in China: II. Ground-based Researches and Academic Activities

Activities of space materials science research in China have been continuously supported by two main national programs. One is the China Space Station (CSS) program since 1992, and the other is the Strategic Priority Program (SPP) on Space Science since 2011. In CSS plan in 2019, eleven space materials science experimental projects were officially approved for execution during the construction of the space station. In the SPP Phase II launched in 2018, seven pre-research projects are deployed as the first batch in 2018, and one concept study project in 2019. These pre-research projects will be cultivated as candidates for future selection as space experiment projects on the recovery of scientific experimental satellites in the future. A new apparatus of electrostatic levitation system for ground-based research of space materials science and rapid solidification research has been developed under the support of the National Natural Science Foundation of China. In order to promote domestic academic activities and to enhance the advancement of space materials science in China, the Space Materials Science and Technology Division belong to the Chinese Materials Research Society was established in 2019. We also organized scientists to write five review papers on space materials science as a special topic published in the journal Scientia Sinica to provide valuable scientific and technical references for Chinese researchers.      

用国产装置进行的空间蛋白质结晶实验

使用国内研制的管式汽相扩散结晶装置,在我国返回式卫星上,成功地完成了两次空间蛋白质晶体生长实验,10种不同种类的蛋白质配制的48个样品在空间的出晶率分别达52%和80%,其中少数蛋白质生长出了较高质量的蛋白质晶体。结果表明,空间的微重力环境利于改善蛋白质晶体的生长,而且在结晶条件优化足够好的条件下,在空间里能生长出比地面晶体尺寸较大、形态较好和内部有序性较高的蛋白质晶体。本文还就微重力对蛋白质晶体生长的具体作用及其开发利用做了讨论。      

A simple closed aquatic ecosystem (CAES) for space

A closed aquatic ecosystem (CAES) was developed to study the effects of microgravity on the function of closed ecosystems aboard the Chinese retrieved satellite and on the spacecraft SHENZHOU-II. These systems housed a small freshwater snail (Bulinus australianus) and an autotrophic green algae (Chlorella pyrenoidosa). The results of the test on the satellite were that the concentration of algae changed little, but that the snails died during the experiments. We then sought to optimize the function of the control system, the cultural conditions and the data acquisition system and carried out an experiment on the spacecraft SHENZHOU-II. Using various sensors to monitor the CAES, real-time data regarding the operation of the CAES in microgravity was acquired. In addition, an on-board 1g centrifuge was included to identify gravity-related factors. It was found that microgravity is the major factor affecting the operation of the CAES in space. The change in biomass of the primary producer during each day in microgravity was larger than that of the control groups. The mean biomass concentration per day in the microgravity group decreased, but that of the control groups increased for several days and then leveled off. Space effects on the biomass of a primary producer may be a result of microgravity effects leading to increasing metabolic rates of the consumer combined with decreases in photosynthesis.     

微重力流体科学空间实验的分析和设想

本文通过回顾国外微重力空间实验的发展,着重分析研究发展趋向及微重力流体科学在空间材料科学中的地位。基于我们理论和地面实验工作基础,提出对微重力流体科学空间实验的一些设想。最后,我们着重说明为什么把Marangoni对流和液体桥的稳定作为近期重点跟踪课题。     

The Space Sciences and Application Projects in Space Laboratory

Space sciences and application projects arranged in Tiangong-2 space laboratory and Tianzhou-1 cargo ship have been described in detail, covering research areas of the fundamental physics, space astronomy, microgravity fluid physics and materials science, space life science, and earth science. These experiments and researches will hopefully produce great scientific results and social benefits in several fields, including:universe evolution, quantum communication, material development, global climate change and earth environment, etc.      

Space Research Plan of China's Space Station

China's manned spaceflight missions have been introduced briefly,and the research planning of space sciences for China's Space Station(CSS) has been presented with the topics in the research areas,including:life science and biotechnology,microgravity fluid physics and combustion science,space material science,fundamental physics,space astronomy and astrophysics,earth sciences and application,space physics and space environment,experiments of new space technology.The research facilities,experiment racks,and supporting system planned in CSS have been described,including:multifunctional optical facility,research facility of quantum and optic transmission,and a dozen of research racks for space sciences in pressurized module,etc.In the next decade,significant breakthroughs in space science and utilization will hopefully be achieved,and great contributions will be made to satisfy the need of the social development and people's daily life.     

微重力燃烧实验火焰结构显示和全场温度测量的原理样机

用于空间燃烧实验的设备要求轻重量、小尺寸和多功能. 将纹影法、彩虹纹影偏折法与差分干涉法相结合, 研制了可用于火焰结构显示和全场温度测量的原理样机. 该原理样机具有重量轻、尺寸小、模块化和多功能等特点. 通过微重力落塔实验, 检验了利用纹影法测量火焰结构的功能, 同时在常重力条件下检验了利用彩虹纹影偏折法和差分干涉法测量火焰全场温度的功能. 结果表明, 火焰结构分辨率不低于1mm, 火焰温度测量结果精确, 相对误差小于2%. 该原理样机将提升空间燃烧的观察方法, 有助于未来空间燃烧实验的开展.      

微重力效应的物理解释及其应用

讨论了微重力效应及其分子物理学解释，万有引力的单极性决定了它的累积性和宏观性，重力对自由分子的影响是微科其微的，然而在流钵，特别是在液体内部的具体条件下，重力对流体内部分子集团产生明显影响，以宏观的静压强形式表现出来。而当重力变小，变微，流体内部的静压强也就趋于消失，由静压强产生的二级现象，如异相沉降或浮泛。同相的浮泛对流，液体自约束成球形，也就消失，这些就是微重力的一，二级物理效应，本文认为，Bossinesq近似对于流体而言实质上是线性热力学假设或近平衡态假设，可以用初始平衡态的物性参量表征临界点时的无量纳数，提出一种重力消失诱发非平衡态向平衡态蜕变的猜想，从文中导出的瑞利数Rα的表达式可以看出，重力加速度的消失，可以使瑞利数的值从远离平衡态的湍流蜕变到稳定流动的瑞利－贝纳对流胞，甚至是没有宏观流动的平衡态，最后，将本文给出的理论解释模型应用到空间材料加工所需微重力水平的估算、窨材料加工工艺的微重力利用准则和空间装置中气体自然对流传热状态模拟的低真空和微重力的互换性方面。     

地面模拟静止微重力环境中导线先期着火特性研究

针对在微重力环境中运行的载人航天飞行器上的电缆和导线在工作时由于电流过载导致温度升高而引起着火的情况,提出了"功能模拟"实验原理,并且利用地面实验设备对微重力环境下导线的着火前期特性进行了功能模拟实验研究.通过实验,得到了在微重力情况下由于浮升力的减小使自然对流减弱导致电流过载时导线的热平衡温度高于地面正常重力情况,从而证明了这正是引起航天飞行器着火的潜在点火源.      

空间站燃烧科学实验系统设计

建立空间站燃烧实验系统,可满足未来空间微重力燃烧实验系统需求.通过空间站微重力燃烧实验研究,可拓展空间燃烧学研究.根据所要实现的功能及燃烧实验需求,对中国空间站燃烧柜的燃烧科学实验系统进行了设计和分析.燃烧科学实验系统由8个子系统组成,是一个适合开展气、液、固多种燃料燃烧实验的综合性实验系统.考虑到强度设计要求,在完成方案设计后,对系统进行了有限元分析,并在研制的结构件上进行了力学环境实验.实验与分析结果表明,本文设计的实验系统能够满足环模实验的要求,结构合理可行.      

Space Life Science of China

In the past two years, China's space life science has made great progress. Space biomedical and life science programs have carried out ground-based research for the first batch of projects, and are preparing to carry out space-based experiments along with the construction of China's space station. And space life science payload of the space station completed the development of positive samples. Thus, with the development of lunar exploration and Mars exploration projects, astrobiology research has also made a lot of basic achievements. On the basis of summarizing the development of space life science in China, this paper mainly introduces the important progress of payload technology and life science research.      

中国返回式卫星与空间科学实验

中国返回式卫星发展至今已有30 多年, 共发射了23 颗返回式卫星. 在多次返回式卫星任务中成功进行了大量的空间科学和技术实验. 本文首先概要介绍了中国返回式卫星的发展情况、技术特点、在返回式卫星上进行的空间科学实验情况; 其次, 介绍了卫星平台对有效载荷可提供的环境条件、服务支持以及载荷设备研制与卫星技术流程之间的匹配关系和接口要求; 最后, 对卫星平台的技术发展趋势与应用前景进行了展望.      

Don Pettit 国际空间站微重力流体实验与若干现象的解析

Don Pettit 是美国NASA 的资深宇航员, 2002 年11 月至2003 年5 月, 在国际空间站工作期间, 进行了一系列名为Saturday Morning Science的微重力实验. Don Pettit 实验揭示了微重力下一些令人惊奇的现象, 涉及流体力学、气泡动力学、晶体生长以及运动学的诸多基础问题, 是能够获得的国际空间站为数不多的微重力实验资料, 具有重要研究意义. 实验包括14 组流体实验和7 组力学实验, 而流体实验又大致分为水膜实验和水球实验, 包括大尺寸水膜制备、扩散和对流、Marangoni 对流、薄膜结晶、水球/气泡旋转等. 本文对Don Pettit 实验的流体部分进行了介绍, 并对其中的Marangoni对流和薄膜结晶实验现象进行了解析.      

卫星搭载生长砷化镓单晶实验

介绍了我国首次利用返回式卫星搭载,在微重力环境中生长砷化镓单晶实验的基本原理,单晶炉结构和主要结果。     

卫星搭载导线着火前期特性实验研究

导线绝缘层的过热及由此发生的着火和燃烧是载人航天飞行器中引起火灾的主要原因.研究微重力下导线绝缘层的可燃性对于预防飞船中火灾的发生有重要意义.本文描述了SJ-8卫星搭载实验项目导线着火前期特性硬件研制以及实验情况.实验中获得了导线着火前期的温度和辐射特性.在搭载实验中,研究了导线过载电流和导线捆绑方式对导线绝缘层着火前期特性的影响.同时将微重力下的实验结果与地面功能模拟的实验结果进行了对比.实验结果表明,微重力环境下自然对流基本消失,导线和电子电气元件的散热情况恶化,在过载的情况下,就可能过热,从而导致失火.搭载实验中导线先期着火征兆的获得,将为开发我国微重力下的着火监测和早期报警装置提供新的技术途径,为我国载人航天飞行器内安全防火的工程技术工作提供科学依据和基础数据资料.