Shenzhou-6

Number of astronauts: 2

Number of flight days:; at least 5 days

Astronaut activity area: Spacecraft return capsule and orbital module

Astronaut activities: Conduct more in-depth scientific experiments

Main foods: snacks, canned coffee, freeze-dried fruits, staple foods, etc.

Types of space food: forty or fifty kinds

Toilet use: astronauts use special toilets

The Shenzhou-6 spacecraft is still composed of three compartments: the propulsion module, the return module, and the orbital module Structure, the shape and structure of the entire ship are the same as the original, and the weight basically remains at about 8 tons. After the spacecraft enters orbit, it first runs 5 times in an elliptical orbit with a perigee of 200 kilometers and an apogee of 350 kilometers, and then changes its orbit to a circular orbit 343 kilometers above the ground. It takes 90 minutes to fly around the earth. The flight trajectory is projected onto the ground. A sinusoidal curve moving eastwards. The orbital characteristics are the same as those of Shenzhou-5.

Since there was no rendezvous and docking mission for this flight, Shenzhou-6 canceled the additional segment used for this function. In addition, more than 40 pieces of equipment and 6 pieces of software were added to the spacecraft, making the spacecraft’s equipment There are more than 600 units, 82 pieces of software, and more than 100,000 components.

The improvements of Shenzhou-6 can be roughly summarized in four aspects: [Blocked Ads]

1. Improvements around two-person multi-day missions. First of all, sufficient or even surplus supplies for astronauts were prepared, including food, water, sleeping bags, etc. The pantry is housed in the orbital bay, which was previously vacant. According to the water consumption of one and a half thermos bottles per person per day, water for astronauts is prepared through water tanks and separate flexible packaging. Secondly, the cockpit’s environmental control capability is improved. A person exhales nearly a liter of water a day. Shenzhou 6 has improved its ability to condense water vapor, expanded the condensation water tank, and covered all exposed pipelines with water-absorbent materials to ensure that the spacecraft humidity is controlled below 80%. The oxygen, temperature and humidity in the cabin can be automatically sensed and adjusted.

2. Improvements in the use of orbital module functions. Many necessities for astronaut life are placed, such as food heating devices and tableware. There is a sleeping bag hung in the orbital module for the two astronauts to take turns to rest. In a state of weightlessness, people can actually sleep floating in the air, but considering the habits people develop on the ground, sleeping bags are used to artificially create a "bed" feeling. Otherwise, astronauts may have the illusion of falling into an abyss when sleeping. . There is also a special cleaning supplies cabinet in the orbital module, and astronauts can use wet wipes and other items inside for cleaning. The urine and feces collection device was also used for the first time this time.

3. Improvements to improve astronaut safety. The astronaut's seat in the return capsule is designed with a landing buffer function to ensure the safety of the astronauts in the event of a failure of the reverse thrust rocket. In the Shenzhou-5 spacecraft, only the seat that Yang Liwei was riding on had a landing buffer function, and there was a small flaw in that it was difficult for the astronauts to see out of the portholes after the seat was raised before returning. Shenzhou-6 redesigned the buffer and conducted repeated tests in conjunction with the entire ship. The three tests of being dropped from towers and airplanes were successful each time. If the door between the return module and the orbital module is not closed tightly during return, it will threaten the safety of the astronauts. Three Russian astronauts lost their lives because of this. Shenzhou-6 researchers successfully developed a rapid automatic detection device for cabin door sealing, and spent several months developing a special rag that does not produce fibers, static electricity, or odor and is specially used to clean the cabin door.

4. Continuous improvement. my country's manned spaceflight project was officially launched in 1992. It has been 13 years since then. Some of the components and raw materials originally used on the spacecraft are no longer produced, and some technologies have become slightly outdated. Shenzhou-6 has made some daily continuous improvements. For example, the "black boxes" on Shenzhou 1 to 5 were developed in 1994 and had a storage capacity of only 10 megabytes. The current black box not only has a storage capacity that is 100 times larger than the original, but the data writing and reading speed has also been increased by more than 10 times, while the volume is less than half of the original.

Composition of the Shenzhou-6 spacecraft

Orbital module: "Multi-functional Hall"

The orbital module of the "Shenzhou" spacecraft is a cylinder with a total length of 2 . 8 meters, with a maximum diameter of 2.25 meters. One end is connected to the return capsule, and the other end is connected to the space docking mechanism.

The orbital module of Shenzhou-6 is called the "multi-purpose hall" because the two astronauts spend all the time in the orbital module except for entering the return module when taking off and returning. The orbital cabin integrates many functions such as working, eating, sleeping, washing and convenience.

Escape tower: to protect the safety of the spacecraft

Escape life-saving tower: located at the front of the spacecraft, 8 meters high. It itself is actually a small launch vehicle composed of a series of rocket engines. From 900 seconds before the rocket takes off to 160 seconds after takeoff, the rocket runs at a distance of 0 to 100 kilometers. In the event of an emergency, this lifesaving tower will be activated to pull the return capsule and orbit of the "Shenzhou 6" spacecraft. The capsule separated from the rocket, quickly escaped from the dangerous area, and parachuted to a safe area.

The orbital module: the "home" of astronauts

The orbital module: also called the work module. Its shape is a cylinder with tapered angles at both ends. It is the astronaut's "space bedroom" and "workshop". It also has the functions of an astronaut living module and an orbit-retaining experimental module, so it is also called an orbit-retaining module. The orbital module is equipped with a variety of test equipment and experimental instruments for earth observation. Its sides are equipped with retractable large-scale solar cell sail wings, solar sensors and various antennas as well as various docking structures. Convert solar energy into energy for the spacecraft, communicate with the ground, etc. As the "space bedroom" of astronauts, the environment of the orbital module is very comfortable, and the temperature inside the cabin is generally between 17 and 25 degrees Celsius.

Return capsule: the astronaut's "cab"

Return capsule: also called the cockpit, it is the astronaut's "cab". It is the cabin section that astronauts ride in when traveling to and from space. It is a closed structure with a hatch at the front. After "Shenzhou 6" completes its Earth orbiting mission, the two astronauts will also return to Earth in the return capsule.

Propulsion cabin: also called instrument cabin. Typically installs the propulsion system, power supply, orbital braking, and provides oxygen and water to the astronauts. The two sides of the propulsion cabin are also equipped with main solar cell sail wings with an area of ??more than 20 square meters.

Why choose autumn launch?

Morning News Comprehensive Xinhua News Agency: Careful people will notice that at this time two years ago, my country's first manned spacecraft Shenzhou 5 was successfully launched. Is it a coincidence that this year's launch of Shenzhou VI coincides with the golden autumn season? no. This is because the weather conditions in autumn are most suitable for my country to launch manned spacecraft.

The choice of the spacecraft launch season must take into account various factors that may affect the launch, among which meteorological conditions are the most direct and critical determinant.

After the spacecraft goes into space, the aerospace measurement and control network will implement measurement and control management of the spacecraft. If the Shenzhou spacecraft is compared to a "kite" flying into space, then the aerospace measurement and control network is the important "kite string." my country's aerospace measurement and control network consists of multiple ground measurement and control stations and four Yuanwang space measurement ships. These four survey ships are the "Yuanwang" 1 and "Yuanwang" 2 survey ships in the Pacific Ocean, the "Yuanwang" 4 survey ship in the Indian Ocean, and the "Yuanwang" 3 survey ship in the Atlantic Ocean. Among them, three survey ships are in the southern hemisphere at relatively high latitudes.

The seasons in the southern hemisphere are exactly opposite to those in our country. Our country's spring and summer are autumn and winter in the southern hemisphere, and the sea conditions are very bad. Even normal navigation is difficult to ensure safety, let alone performing measurement and control tasks at sea, so it is not suitable to launch a spacecraft. The autumn and winter seasons in my country are the spring and summer seasons in the southern hemisphere, and the sea conditions are better, making it easier for navigation and measurement tasks. Therefore, the launch timing of my country's Shenzhou 1 to 5 spacecraft was chosen in the autumn and winter seasons opposite to those in the southern hemisphere.

In addition, compared with autumn and winter, although Shenzhou 4, launched on December 30, 2002, broke my country's historical record for low-temperature launches, in manned spaceflight, it is people-oriented and fully protects astronauts. Safety has become the biggest feature of launch, so the meteorological conditions of the launch section are also very important. Obviously, autumn is more suitable than winter. Therefore, both the Shenzhou 5 manned spacecraft two years ago and the Shenzhou 6 manned spacecraft this year chose to launch in the autumn.

According to Gong Jiancun, a researcher at the Space Environment Forecast Center of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, "This year is close to the bottom of the cycle. It is expected that solar activity will be stable during the Shenzhou-6 flight, making it suitable for human space activities."

Gong Jiancun said that people have understood that the solar activity cycle is 11 years, with the peak in 2000 and the bottom in 2006. Therefore, the frequency of abnormal solar activities this year is low, and the general trend is conducive to human space activities.

Shenzhou 6 will fly in "fine weather"

From the launch of Shenzhou 5, China's first manned space flight breakthrough, to the two-person space flight of Shenzhou 6 for more than one day, Chinese astronauts The special milk Mengniu milk has accompanied the astronauts from the sweaty training ground to the vast space, witnessing the hardship and glory of China's manned spaceflight industry. What are the special requirements for the selection of food for astronauts, and how did Mengniu milk become "milk for Chinese astronauts"? With the successful return of Shenzhou-6, the mystery surrounding the astronauts’ diet has been gently unveiled by nutrition experts.

In China, an air force pilot is selected from 1,000 military personnel, and only one of the 100 air force pilots has the opportunity to become a fighter pilot. The astronauts are selected from among these fighter pilots. 1. Final selection after comprehensive investigation and comparison in all aspects. In order to ensure that these "national treasures" who shoulder the heavy responsibility of the motherland maintain good physical and mental quality, a nutrition team composed of experts from all walks of life began the rigorous selection of special food for astronauts long before the first manned space mission of Shenzhou 5. Work. In order to ensure the safety, greenness and nutrition of space food, the Institute of Aerospace Medical Engineering's regulations on astronaut food are as long as 8 pages! The first step is to investigate and select milk as a “complete nutritional food”.

Milk source is the first key to determine the quality of milk, so it has also become the primary factor evaluated by experts. Considering that the western China prairie with the Inner Mongolia prairie as the core is located in the internationally recognized mid-temperate monsoon climate high-quality dairy cattle breeding zone, it is unrivaled in China and a leading high-quality grassland in the world. All major milk source bases are located here. Mengniu Dairy in this area has entered the field of vision of experts. At Mengniu's production base, they saw the world's leading "model factory". Here, every drop of raw milk goes through a series of fully automated processes to become a fragrant and qualified milk product. The entire process is in a closed and sterile state. conduct. From the market to the factory, and from the factory to the pasture, the performance of Mengniu milk has convinced every expert.

After rigorous testing, the national aerospace department believes that all indicators of Mengniu milk have reached or exceeded domestic and international standards. With its pure nature, high quality, rich nutrition and good taste, Mengniu milk eventually became the only "milk for Chinese astronauts" designated by space nutrition experts. Since then, "three cups of milk a day" has become a "white movement" in astronauts' training, work and life.

Every morning, while enjoying other carefully matched foods, astronauts drink a glass of Mengniu milk to effectively ensure heat energy and nutrition throughout the day.” After lunch, the nutritionist at the training base A cup of Mengniu yogurt will be given to every astronaut in time. It turns out that the organic acids such as lactic acid and acetic acid in yogurt not only give the yogurt a refreshing sour taste, but also help the milk form tender curds, thereby reducing the intestinal PH value. , promote gastrointestinal motility and secretion of digestive juices, inhibit the reproduction of harmful microorganisms, and keep astronauts energetic all afternoon. “Mengniu has changed the number of probiotics in its yogurt products from two to four, which is not only nutritious. The value has been significantly improved compared to similar products, and its function of helping digestion and inhibiting harmful bacteria has been further strengthened, making it very popular among astronauts. ” commented the nutritionist at the base.

After a day of intense training, the astronauts will also drink a glass of milk at dinner. Nutrition experts pointed out that on the one hand, the milk consumed at dinner is also The soothing effect promotes deep sleep in astronauts. On the other hand, when the human body is in a sleeping state, it is easier to absorb the protein in milk.

“Three cups of milk a day, 500-800 ml a day. This scientific recipe not only ensures nutritional supplementation, but also does not cause fat accumulation. It is not only suitable for astronauts, but also for ordinary people.” Nutrition experts believe that the scientific combination of milk in astronaut meals is worthy of being carried out in the whole society. Vigorously promote it.

Becoming “milk for Chinese astronauts” is not only a lofty honor, but also an expectation and responsibility to “inspire the Chinese heart with one brilliant achievement in China’s aerospace industry.” "At the same time, every Mengniu person is also committed to the great mission of "strengthening the Chinese people."

In 2003, when the Shenzhou 5 was launched, achieving the first breakthrough in China's manned space industry, Mengniu Milk quickly became the leader in China's liquid milk market, and in 2004 became the athlete training director of the Training Bureau of the State Sports General Administration. Special milk has contributed its own strength to Chinese athletes' glory in the world competition. Subsequently, Mengniu took the lead in building China's largest "Australia International Ranch", was the first in China to introduce robotic milking facilities, planted high-quality forage from 12 countries in the world, and raised high-quality dairy cows around the world, starting the process of upgrading the milk source of China's dairy industry. road. In 2005, when Shenzhou-6 was orbiting our beautiful planet with perfect posture, Mengniu had already sold 7,000 tons of liquid milk per day, surpassing many century-old multinational dairy giants and becoming a global leader. The leader in liquid milk. As the first “Partner of China’s Aerospace Industry”, Mengniu will not only “cheer for China”, but also use pure and mellow milk to support the health of every astronaut and every Chinese, and unremittingly pursue the “Strong China Dream” .

Comparison between Shenzhou 5 and Shenzhou 6

Shenzhou 5 and Shenzhou 6

The size, weight, equipment, etc. of the two are basically unchanged; adopt "Long March 2F" carrier rocket serves as a power carrier

Launch time: October 15, 2003, mid-October 2005

The scope of activity is limited to the return capsule. Open the return capsule door. Entering the orbital module to conduct scientific experiments

Spacesuit Yang Liwei’s spacesuit has never left his body. He has the opportunity to take off the spacesuit weighing 10 kilograms. The new spacesuit mainly consists of clothing, helmets, gloves and aerospace equipment. Composed of boots, etc.

Space duration 21 hours and 119 hours

Number of astronauts 1 and 2 people

Food Instant food, no need to heat or add water 50 About: including four kinds of staple food, dishes such as "abalone" and "salt water prawn" as well as fruits

Toilet problems Special toilet for diapers

Shenzhou 6 spacecraft = for The three-cabin structure of the propulsion cabin, return cabin, and orbital cabin, the overall shape and structure of the ship are the same as before, and the weight is basically maintained at about 8 tons. After the spacecraft enters orbit, it first runs 5 times in an elliptical orbit with a perigee of 200 kilometers and an apogee of 350 kilometers, and then changes its orbit to a circular orbit 343 kilometers above the ground. It takes 90 minutes to fly around the earth. The flight trajectory is projected onto the ground. A sinusoidal curve moving eastwards. The orbital characteristics are the same as those of Shenzhou-5.

Since there was no rendezvous and docking mission for this flight, Shenzhou-6 canceled the additional segment used for this function. In addition, more than 40 pieces of equipment and 6 pieces of software were added to the spacecraft, making the spacecraft’s equipment There are more than 600 units, 82 pieces of software, and more than 100,000 components.

The choice of the spacecraft launch season must take into account various factors that may affect the launch, among which meteorological conditions are the most direct and critical determining factor.

After the spacecraft goes into space, the aerospace measurement and control network will implement measurement and control management of the spacecraft. If the Shenzhou spacecraft is compared to a "kite" flying into space, then the aerospace measurement and control network is the important "kite string." my country's aerospace measurement and control network consists of multiple ground measurement and control stations and four Yuanwang space measurement ships. These four survey ships are the "Yuanwang" 1 and "Yuanwang" 2 survey ships in the Pacific Ocean, the "Yuanwang" 4 survey ship in the Indian Ocean, and the "Yuanwang" 3 survey ship in the Atlantic Ocean. Among them, three survey ships are in the southern hemisphere at relatively high latitudes.

The seasons in the southern hemisphere are exactly opposite to those in our country. Our country's spring and summer are autumn and winter in the southern hemisphere, and the sea conditions are very bad. Even normal navigation is difficult to ensure safety, let alone performing measurement and control tasks at sea, so it is not suitable to launch a spacecraft. The autumn and winter seasons in my country are the spring and summer seasons in the southern hemisphere, and the sea conditions are better, making it easier for navigation and measurement tasks. Therefore, the launch timing of my country's Shenzhou 1 to 5 spacecraft was chosen in the autumn and winter seasons opposite to those in the southern hemisphere.

In addition, compared with autumn and winter, although Shenzhou 4, launched on December 30, 2002, broke my country's historical record for low-temperature launches, in manned spaceflight, it is people-oriented and fully protects astronauts. Safety has become the biggest feature of launch, so the meteorological conditions of the launch section are also very important. Obviously, autumn is more suitable than winter. Therefore, both the Shenzhou 5 manned spacecraft two years ago and the Shenzhou 6 manned spacecraft this year chose to launch in the autumn.

According to Gong Jiancun, a researcher at the Space Environment Forecast Center of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, "This year is close to the bottom of the cycle. It is expected that solar activity will be stable during the Shenzhou-6 flight, making it suitable for human space activities."

Gong Jiancun said that people have understood that the solar activity cycle is 11 years, with the peak in 2000 and the bottom in 2006. Therefore, the frequency of abnormal solar activities this year is low, and the general trend is conducive to human space activities. Shenzhou VI will fly in "fine weather"