The Shenzhou-23 crew aboard China's Tiangong space station has recently completed the fifth transfer of material exposure experimental apparatus to the station's exterior, advancing a series of experiments that have yielded multiple world firsts.
The three astronauts -- Zhu Yangzhu, Zhang Zhiyuan and Lai Ka-ying -- were sent into space aboard the Shenzhou-23 spacecraft on May 24, with one of them scheduled to spend a full year in orbit.
During their ongoing mission, the crew has made the world's first in-orbit observation of the full life cycle of individual nematodes in space, including changes in the roundworms' organs and molecular markers. The returned samples will be used to develop new anti-radiation drugs.
The crew has also conducted the world's first space exposure experiment on a high-performance stainless magnesium alloy, verifying its reliability and stability for potential space applications such as lightweight satellite electronic-control and heat-dissipation components.
In another world first, the crew carried out an extravehicular exposure and bearing tribology experiment on liquid-containing gel lubricants, paving the way for the design and development of new long-life space lubricating materials that may be used in lunar rover motion mechanisms.
The crew has also conducted the world's first tribological experiment in a vacuum environment on oil-based superlubricating materials with near-zero wear, laying a foundation for future applications of lubricating materials with near-zero friction.
Moreover, exposure experiments on shape-memory polymers and their composites outside the space station has helped China screen preferred substrate materials for deployable structures and locking and release structures.
These results are expected to support the country's major space programs, including space station development, crewed lunar landing and planetary exploration.
Shenzhou-23 crew completes payload transfer for in-orbit material exposure experiments
