Lyra Martin Science 07.07.2022 08:Jul AM EDT

Shenzhou-14 Taikonauts Conducts Microgravity Experiments

Shenzhou-14 Taikonauts Spends Time on Microgravity Experiments — The taikonauts may research molecules, cells, tissues, and organs aboard Wentian using online detection techniques like visible light, fluorescence, or microscopic imaging.
Photo : Kevin Frayer / Getty Images

China Manned Space Agency's orbital investigations encompass microbiology, physics, and medicine.

The connection of two lab modules with the space station core module while in orbit will be observed by Chen Dong, Liu Yang, and Cai Xuzhe, who were sent on the Shenzhou-14 spacecraft for a six-month mission to the space station system.

Taikonauts Launched for Six-Month Mission to Also Watch Lab Modules Dock with Space Station Core Module in Orbit

The Shenzhou-14 taikonauts have invested more time in microgravity experiments on the orbiting core module Tianhe since visiting the Chinese space station a month ago, which bodes well for scientific pursuits there.

China's space station is intended to be a flexible space lab with room for 25 experiment cabinets for interdisciplinary research. The main module of the space station is jam-packed with research tools, and the studies being conducted in orbit cover a wide variety of fields, including microbiology, physics, and medicine, according to video updates from space broadcast by China Manned Space Agency.

To assure their safety and comfort throughout the six-month space mission, the three-person crew tested the water, air, and surface samples for microbes. Additionally, they equipped their circling house with a carbon dioxide regeneration and reduction system.

The group was shown getting their eyes checked and receiving first aid instruction in the most recent update.

The taikonauts will be able to conduct experiments on molecules, cells, tissues, and organs utilizing the experiment cabinets that were installed aboard Wentian using various online detection techniques such as visible light, fluorescence, or microscopic imaging.

For the three, it hasn't only been about the experiments and building the space station. Additionally, they are keeping a good work-life balance while in orbit.

They have been shown in recent recordings exercising on treadmills and exercise bikes to lessen the effects of microgravity exposure on the body.

Chen Dong, Liu Yang, and Cai Xuzhe, three taikonauts, were launched by China's Shenzhou-14 spacecraft on June 5 for a six-month mission to its space station system. The crew will watch as two lab modules, the Tianzhou-5 cargo ship, and the Shenzhou-15 crew spacecraft, connect with the space station core module while in orbit.

Search for Inhabitable Exoplanets May be One of China's Future Space Missions

According to recent rumors, China's future space missions may involve looking for habitable exoplanets.

SpaceNews published the first information about China's subsequent space missions. According to the paper, a total of 13 tasks have been suggested. Five to seven of these 13 will be chosen for launches between 2026 and 2030.

The flights were described by the Chinese Academy of Science (CAS) in the Chinese Journal of Space Science back in June.

The missions that the CAS has suggested are all fascinating and taken together. Several of them, like The Enhanced X-ray Timing and Polarimetry mission, is centered on astrophysics and astronomy research. This next Chinese space mission will investigate the state of matter under severe circumstances.

In addition, the country intends to use the Dark Matter Particle Explorer-2 to look for further dark matter proof.

Four of the 13 missions listed will also look for heliophysics effects, while the remaining four will focus on studying Earth and other planets in more detail. This entails a closer examination of Venus as well as new research on the temperature and atmosphere of Earth in low orbit.

Last but not least, two of China's planned space missions will significantly emphasize the hunt for habitable exoplanets. The first of these missions, the Closeby Habitable Exoplanet Survey (CHES), will investigate 100 sun-like stars 33 light-years away from Earth. China intends to study such systems using micro-arcsecond astrometric methods. Additionally, it could indicate neighboring habitable exoplanets.