After the primary study of the experimental instruments carried in
Shenzhou IV, China's fourth unmanned spaceship, and the results of
its space experiments during the seven-day flight, the
Chinese
Academy of Sciences (CAS) announced on January 7 in Beijing
that many research results have been obtained, including that in
space environment monitoring, microwave remote-sensing observation
of the earth and new space technological experiment.
Space environment and its changes are key issues to the safety of
the manned spaceship and its astronauts. During its recent mission,
Shenzhou IV conducted comprehensive monitoring and forecast of
space environment, the first operation of its kind by China.
Besides exploring high-layer atmosphere as Shenzhou II and III did,
the spaceship also monitored various environmental indexes in its
orbit. In addition, it carried the equipment for monitoring the
high- and low-energy radiations, the vital factors to astronauts'
safety in space.
China is mature in space environment forecast after four unmanned
spaceship flights. It has the ability to conduct forecasts of
long-, medium- and short-term space environmental situation during
the launch and flight of a spaceship, including abnormal
situations. The nation is able to provide indexes of solar
activities, space radiations, geomagnetic activities and atmosphere
situation in spaceship's orbit, in addition to ringing alarms for
emergencies. All these will ensure the safety of the spaceship.
The Shenzhou IV is installed with multi-modes microwave remote
sensor, which consists of a microwave radiometer, an altimeter and
a dispersion meter. These instruments were used to collect data of
the ocean, atmosphere and land relating to precipitations, snow,
soil moisture, ocean altitude, ocean circumfluence, as well as the
speed and direction of winds on the sea.
The spaceship also successfully finished the experiments of cell's
electrical integration in space and the separation and purification
of big molecule and cell, laying down a strong foundation for
future space bioresearches.
Moreover, with equipment for liquid experiment developed by the
nation, the spaceship experimented on micro-gravity liquid physics,
bringing in hope for making breakthroughs in this field.
(China.org.cn by Feng Yikun January 15, 2003)