Almost two months into their mission, the Shenzhou-21 crew have been smoothly pushing for experiments in multiple domains aboard China's Tiangong space station.
China launched the Shenzhou-21 crewed spaceship on Nov 1, sending three astronauts to its orbiting space station on a six-month mission.
The Shenzhou-21 crew consists of mission commander Zhang Lu, and astronauts Wu Fei and Zhang Hongzhang. These three astronauts serve as space pilot, flight engineer and payload specialist, respectively, representing all three categories of Chinese astronauts currently being applied in the country's space endeavors.
In the field of aerospace medicine experiments, the three astronauts used electroencephalogram (EEG) equipment to acquire data needed for experimental projects such as metacognitive monitoring research and group brain cognition-emotion analysis and regulation, assisting the ground-based researchers in their ongoing research.
In Wentian lab module, the trio used the science glove box to collect samples of Arabidopsis thaliana, a plant that will help in research on the molecular network regulation of plant stem cells.
In the field of microgravity physics, the crew completed the disassembly and assembly of the complex fluid experiment module in the fluid physics experimental cabinet and replaced the experimental samples according to the experimental plan.
The crew members replaced the sampling cover of the plug-in gas experiment in the combustion experimental cabinet, and carried out the cleaning and replacement of the sample in the containerless cabinet experimental chamber and the maintenance of the electrodes of the axial mechanism.
The mission crew also launched the project in-situ electrochemical optical research of lithium-ion batteries for space applications, which will give full play to the professional advantages of payload expert Zhang to acquire images of the entire process of lithium dendrite growth.
Furthermore, the three astronauts underwent medical examinations such as bone density measurement, electrocardiogram and blood pressure checks, and visual function measurement to comprehensively understand their on-orbit health status.
Shenzhou-21 crew smoothly push for experiments in multiple fields
Shenzhou-21 crew smoothly push for experiments in multiple fields
