The world's largest 5,000-sqm power-generating kite completed its first flight test on Wednesday in Alxa Left Banner, north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, marking a milestone in the country's development of high-altitude wind power, according to the kite's developer, China Energy Engineering Corporation Limited.
The kite achieved full in-air deployment and retraction during the testing.
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China completes flight test for world's largest power-generating kite
China completes flight test for world's largest power-generating kite
China completes flight test for world's largest power-generating kite
China completes flight test for world's largest power-generating kite
China completes flight test for world's largest power-generating kite
The trial tested a land-based high-altitude wind power generation system that uses kites to capture wind energy, then pulls the generators on the ground to produce electricity.
High-altitude power generation technology enables capturing wind energy from altitudes above 300 meters and turning it into electricity using kites as its core equipment.
"We have completed the first deployment test of the world's largest [power-generation] kite and successfully finished data collection, providing a scientific basis for the design of the kite assembly, which will lay the foundation for deploying a complete set of equipment and for setting standards," said Cao Lun, chief director of the kite-opening test.
At high altitudes, the wind blows faster, stronger, and more consistently. High-altitude wind, as an uncharted territory in new energy, bears great potential for further development.
"We will conduct multi-kite flight tests and plan to launch power generation trials at the end of next year," said Huo Shaolei, senior technical expert at China Power Engineering Consulting Group Limited.
China completes flight test for world's largest power-generating kite
China completes flight test for world's largest power-generating kite
China completes flight test for world's largest power-generating kite
China completes flight test for world's largest power-generating kite
China completes flight test for world's largest power-generating kite
China's Shenzhou-23 astronauts have spent more than 80 days aboard the Tiangong Space Station, where they have advanced a broad slate of scientific experiments and operational training drills over the past week as the mission progresses steadily.
Last week, the three astronauts, namely Zhu Yangzhu, Zhang Zhiyuan, and Lai Ka-ying, carried out multiple parallel space science experiments and tests, according to the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA).
The crew completed in-orbit electroencephalogram (EEG) tests and behavioral experiments for the microgravity intuitive physics project, examining how prolonged spaceflight affects astronauts' brain functional networks and their ability to form intuitive physical representations.
They also collected and processed blood samples for research programs including bone metabolism interactive regulation and space integrative omics, supporting studies on the changing patterns of the human skeletal, nervous and other physiological systems during long-duration spaceflight.
In addition, kinematic characteristic experiments were conducted to provide support for ergonomic design and evaluation.
In the field of psychological and behavioral research, the trio finished an emergency decision-making capability assessment and an in-orbit emotional state test, part of ongoing work to track changes in crew performance and mental status throughout long-term on-orbit missions.
Alongside scientific endeavors, the astronauts pushed ahead with scheduled in-orbit training and emergency drills to reinforce their operational skills and response readiness.
Footage from the orbital complex shows the crew honing their skills on the on-orbit teleoperation rendezvous and docking training system, practicing manual docking, teleoperated docking and manual evacuation maneuvers by operating translation and attitude control handles.
They also completed in-orbit medical rescue training to familiarize themselves with rescue procedures and force application characteristics in a microgravity environment.
Furthermore, the crew carried out the second full-system pressure emergency drill, further consolidating their emergency handling capabilities and improving space-ground coordination efficiency.
China launched the Shenzhou-23 crewed spaceship on May 24. The mission includes a one-year in-orbit study designed to gather data for future long-duration human space missions.
China's Shenzhou-23 crew advance space science experiments, in-orbit training
