As the name implies, the core module of Tianhe is the core module of China next generation space station. After the launch, the experimental modules of Quest and Meng Tian will be launched one after another, and the launch mission will be completed before the end of 2022.
Tianhe core module is the key module of the new space station. It is like the trunk of a tree, and other modules will be installed on its interface, extending outward like the roots and branches of the tree. Therefore, the Tianhe core module is quite huge, with a length of16.6m (18. 1 m), exceeding five floors. Its diameter is about 4.2 meters, which is much larger than the width of trains and subway cars (2.8~3. 1 meter). It can be said that its volume is larger than any module of the International Space Station, with an internal space of at least 50 cubic meters, which gives astronauts a lot of room for activities.
The Tianhe core cabin weighs about 20-22 tons, which is equivalent to the empty weight of three large buses (each empty weight is about 7 tons) and exceeds any cabin of the International Space Station. It can be called "a great power and a new heavyweight" that China sent into space.
Tianhe core module consists of three parts: node module, life control module and resource module. After the launch, it will provide space research and living environment for astronauts and scientists, support them to stay in orbit for a long time, and undertake the docking of manned and cargo spacecraft. Its design life is 15 years, which can be extended for a long time under maintenance.
The launch of Tianhe core module also represents that China's manned spaceflight project has entered a new stage, and its launch also means that China will become the only country with an independent space station in the world.
There are some advanced black technologies in the "Tianhe" core cabin. Judging from the existing news, it has at least the following four items:
First of all, it is equipped with a triple-junction GaAs solar cell with the highest photoelectric conversion efficiency, and uses an unprecedented truss-type flexible solar cell wing that can be expanded twice. Its power generation and power supply efficiency greatly exceeds that of other spacecraft, and also far exceeds the existing solar wing power generation device of the International Space Station.
Secondly, the core module also uses an electric propulsion engine, which can be used to adjust the attitude and orbit of the space station during operation. Because of electric propulsion, propellant can be used efficiently, and a small amount of propellant can meet the requirements of attitude adjustment and orbit upgrade.
Thirdly, the core cabin is equipped with 16 large-scale scientific research cabinet, which can carry out scientific research experiments of different projects and reserve space for other scientific research institutions, which is more efficient than that of the International Space Station. At present, nine scientific research projects from 17 countries have been selected, and relevant experiments will be carried out at an appropriate time.
Fourthly, it is said that the "core cabin" is also equipped with a pair of powerful "arms"-a seven-degree-of-freedom manipulator, which can truly simulate the movements and abilities of a pair of human arms.
Two mechanical arms, one big and one small, can crawl freely on the core cabin. Big enough to grab 25 tons of objects in space. When the small one is used with it, it can complete the action like two arms and two hands, which is convenient for grasping other spacecraft and facilitating the docking, separation, installation and transition of the space station cabin and external scientific research equipment.
If the core cabin passes by the American spacecraft in space, then the plot of the American spacecraft's solar panel being cut off in the American drama "Space Force" can also be staged in reality.
References:
"China News Network" 65438+February 26 article "Launch the core module of the space station in the first half of next year to continue the launch of Tianzhou-2 Shenzhou-12"