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SCIO press conference on China's progress on space station construction

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Phoenix Satellite Television:

Mr. Hao just mentioned that the Wentian and Mengtian lab modules will be sent into space later this year in July and November, and the in orbit construction of the space station will be finished then. How is work on the two lab modules currently progressing? What roles will they play in the future? Thank you.

Yang Hong:

Thank you for your questions. After the construction of the space station is completed, the two lab modules will become the central working area for astronauts in orbit. Astronauts can carry out intravehicular and extravehicular scientific and technological experiments in the two modules, both of which are equipped with experiment cabinets and an installation platform for extravehicular payloads, together with information support, as well as power supply and heat dissipation. In the two lab modules, astronauts will be able to conduct research into space science, space materials, space medicine and space exploration.

Next, let me briefly introduce the two lab modules. The Wentian lab module is equipped with the same living facilities as the Tianhe core module, including three sleeping areas, a toilet and a kitchen, ensuring the basic living requirements of astronauts. Wentian and Tianhe can support six astronauts living in space during the shift rotations of two spacecraft crews. A small mechanical arm is installed on the Wentian lab module. This can be used either alone or along with the larger robotic arm on the Tianhe core module to assist astronauts in tasks including EVAs, extravehicular facility maintenance and patrol inspections. Additionally, an airlock cabin in the Wentian lab module will serve as the main exit-entry point for EVAs once the construction of the space station is completed. The node cabin in the Tianhe core module will then serve as a backup. The Wentian lab module can also serve as a backup for the management and control of the space station complex in the case of a malfunction in the Tianhe core module, thereby increasing the overall reliability of the space station.

The Mengtian lab module is equipped with a cargo airlock cabin and a deployed extravehicular platform. In the future, the scientific equipment that needs to be installed outside the module will first be sent to the space station by cargo craft, then transferred outside through the cargo airlock cabin, and then installed on the extravehicular platform by mechanical arms or astronauts. In this way, the extravehicular research projects can be updated continuously.

So far, the development of the Wentian and Mengtian lab modules is going smoothly on the ground. The Wentian lab module has completed the entire module integrated assembly, testing, and large-scale experimental work in Tianjin, and is ready for launch. The Mengtian lab module has completed part of its integrated assembly and experimental work, and is currently undergoing on-the-ground testing. Further experimental work such as thermal testing of the entire module and return testing will be completed as planned. Thank you.