Rice sets ears in space! The Chinese space station has launched a number of scientific experiments

On the 3rd, the Mengtian experimental module completed the transposition, and the "T" basic configuration of the Chinese space station was assembled in
orbit.
"Building a station for application" is the starting point and foothold of China's space station construction
.
Since the construction of the Chinese space station, the astronaut crew has successfully carried out many out-of-cabin activities, carried out a number of scientific and technological experimental studies, and achieved a number of research results
.
How are the ongoing trials going?

In the life ecology experiment cabinet of the Chinese space station, rice and Arabidopsis thaliana are thriving
.
Since the nutrient solution was injected at the end of July, rice and Arabidopsis have undergone germination, growth, and maturation
.
In China's manned space payload operation and control hall, researchers are paying close attention to the growth and changes
of plants.

Zhang Lu, researcher of the Space Application Center of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and deputy director of the Integration Technology Center: The growth cycle of Arabidopsis thaliana is relatively short, and the first batch of Arabidopsis has completed the process
from seed to seed.
Rice can see some green spikelets, which are actually the first time rice has begun to bear ears
in space.

To study the whole life cycle from seed to seed under microgravity conditions, Arabidopsis thaliana has a successful precedent before, and the scientific goal of this experiment is to further study how to improve quality and increase yield; For rice, it is the first time
in the world to complete the whole life cycle cultivation from seed to seed.

Zhang Lu, researcher of the Space Application Center of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and deputy director of the Integration Technology Center: The space station provides an environment for long-term experiments, and we will collect the subsequent seeds and leaves, bring them back to the ground, and conduct more in-depth research
.

In addition, the containerless material experimental cabinet configured in the Tianhe core cabin has completed more than ten kinds of sample experiments in orbit, successfully carried out scientific experiments such as high-temperature containerless suspension, heating melting and solidification above 2000°C, and obtained a large number of key scientific data
.
Up to now, three space experimental samples have returned to the ground with the Shenzhou spacecraft, and the scientific research team of the Shanghai Institute of Ceramics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences has conducted ground analysis tests and made new discoveries
.

Ni Jinqi, Shanghai Institute of Ceramics, Chinese Academy of Sciences: We found that the metal zirconium experimented on the space station is quite different from the oxygen atoms on the surface of the metal zirconium on the ground, and this phenomenon usually only exists on
special samples such as meteorites.
Therefore, we are currently conducting further research with scientists in geochemistry and celestial culture, and we believe that this phenomenon may provide new research directions and ideas
for the evolution of the solar system.

The Sky Survey Space Telescope will fly in common orbit with the Chinese space station

With the construction of the Chinese space station, the development of a survey space telescope flying in common orbit with it is also advancing in an intense and orderly manner
.
The reporter learned from the Space Application Center of the Chinese Academy of Sciences that the sky survey telescope has now fully entered the stage of identification and development, and after launch, it will become a flagship space astronomical facility
for exploring the sea of stars.

As the optical module of the Chinese space station, the Sky Survey Space Telescope will be equipped with an optical system with a diameter of 2 meters and equipped with a series of state-of-the-art detectors
.
The telescope is the size of a large bus, standing three stories high and weighing more than a dozen tons
.

Xu Shuyan, researcher at the Chunguang Institute of Machinery, president of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and overall chief designer of the sky survey optical facility: Under the same conditions, the Hubble telescope can see 1 star, and our space survey telescope can see 300 stars
.

The Sky Survey Space Telescope is like a mobile space observatory flying in common orbit with the space station, which can avoid atmospheric interference and carry out cutting-edge astronomical exploration
.

Zhan Hu, researcher of the National Astronomical Observatory of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and responsible scientist of the sky survey optical facilities: Usually when observing, it flies away from the common orbit of the space station, and when it needs to be replenished or repaired and upgraded, the sky survey space telescope will take the initiative to dock with the space station and then replenish
.

According to China's manned space engineering plan, the Sky Survey Space Telescope is expected to be put into scientific operation around 2024, which will bring back high-definition images of the entire universe and open up a new understanding
of the universe.

Zhang Lu, researcher of the Space Application Center of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and deputy director of the Integration Technology Center: We also expect that the entire sky survey telescope can complete the corresponding engineering development as soon as possible, and can carry out the entire space astronomy research
in the sky.

Zhan Hu, researcher of the National Astronomical Observatory of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, responsible scientist of the Sky Survey Optical Facility: It can also cover the study of the Milky Way, stars, black holes, solar systems and even exoplanets, and can provide extremely rich data for research in these aspects, and is expected to make breakthroughs
.