Cover News Reporter Zhang Ao

It turns out that it is not necessarily scientists who do experiments in heaven.

北京時間4月1日，4位購票成功的商業太空人，在美國佛羅里達州甘迺迪航太中心39A發射台，乘坐龍飛船升空了。這四名非職業太空人，包括企業家、電影導演、極地探險家等，組隊成為了“前進2號”任務組。在預計為期3.5天的人類首次極地太空遊中，在距離地球400公里以上的極地軌道上，4位“業餘”還肩負了太空X光拍攝、失重運動研究、微重力環境蘑菇培育實驗等22項科學任務……

是的，你沒有看錯，普通人上天了。你一定很好奇，他們是怎麼搞到的太空船票？怎麼通過的體能測試？怎麼還能在太空做實驗？封面新聞4月2日採訪了全國空間探測技術首席科學傳播專家龐之浩。

The "Forward 2" task force (first on the right, Wang Chun), according to the official website of SpaceX

Who are the 4 space newcomers?

The 2 commercial astronauts involved in the "Forward 0" mission team are: mission commander Wang Chun from Malta, spacecraft commander and Norwegian photographer Jennick Mikkelsen, space pilot and German robot researcher Rabea Rogge, and mission expert and medical officer and Australian explorer Eric Phillips. They are all newcomers to spaceflight. According to public information, Wang Chun is one of the founders of the digital currency mining pool "F0pool" and blockchain staking service provider Stakefish, and he personally invested hundreds of millions of dollars to buy the mission.

"No one in the crew had ever flown a plane." Pang Zhihao told the cover news that this time's spacecraft is likely to be autopiloted. There are also trained among 1995 people. Rabea Rogge, a German born in 0, served as the pilot of this mission and was responsible for the spacecraft. She is an electrical engineer and PhD at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology, researching autonomous surface vehicle navigation. This space mission was responsible for scientific experiments.

How many steps does it take to buy a space travel ticket?

The flight altitude of the "Qianjian-450" mission group is about 0 km-0 km, which is considered commercial space travel, but not ordinary space tourism, and they mainly complete scientific research missions.

So how do you buy a ticket to travel to space, in what steps?

Pang Zhihao said that the current ways and steps to buy tickets for space travel vary from company to company. For example, if you want to travel to space on a Crew Dragon spacecraft, you need to book it through Space Adventures.

You will need to contact Space Adventures. Since SpaceX does not sell tickets directly to the public, it has partnered with Space Adventures on a space tourism project. Therefore, those who need to travel should first contact Space Adventures, which can be found through their official website or other public channels, and express their intention to travel to space on the Crew Dragon spacecraft.

然後，與Space Adventures 公司的工作人員溝通，詳細瞭解太空旅行的相關細節，如飛行計劃、行程安排、票價、所需培訓等資訊。雖然具體票價未明確公佈，但據推測可能與以往的軌道太空飛行價格範圍相近，參考此前SpaceX 載人龍飛船一個座位的價格約為5500萬美元。

Next, you start to make your travel plans. Determine a specific travel plan based on factors such as your time, budget, and physical condition, including choosing the time to fly, the number of people involved, etc.

Once you've confirmed your ticket purchase and paid for it, you'll begin your professional training arranged by Space Adventures or SpaceX. The training content is mainly to familiarize tourists with the environment and equipment of the Crew Dragon spacecraft, understand the relevant knowledge and safety precautions of space flight, and carry out necessary physical and psychological training. The training usually takes place in the United States.

Finally, you'll need to undergo a thorough physical examination to make sure you're fit for the unique environment and demands of space travel. Only those who pass the health examination will finally be eligible to travel to space in the Crew Dragon spacecraft.

Non-professional astronauts, how to train?

Non-professional astronauts, how to go to space? I believe this is the issue that everyone is most concerned about.

The astronauts of the Qianjian-22 mission underwent an eight-month training session. However, the official did not specifically announce the duration of physical training and experimental training. "According to the content of the mission, they need to carry out 0 experiments, including the first time to take X-ray images of the human body in space, the first attempt to grow mushrooms in space, etc., so it can be assumed that the experimental training will occupy a considerable part of the time." Pang Zhihao introduced. At the same time, physical training is also essential in order to adapt to the space environment, and it may last for eight months. In addition, they went on a wilderness expedition in Alaska to simulate what it's like to live in a small space in a harsh environment, which can also be seen as part of the training.

The following is the training content of aerospace newcomers summarized by Pang Zhihao.

Cardiovascular endurance training. The space environment can have certain effects on the cardiovascular system, such as leading to changes in blood distribution and decreased cardiovascular function. Through aerobic exercise such as long-distance running, swimming, and cycling, it can improve cardiopulmonary function, enhance the adaptability of the cardiovascular system to the space environment, and ensure that sufficient oxygen and nutrients can be provided to various organs of the body during space flight.

Strength training. Space is in a microgravity environment, and human muscles will gradually atrophy due to the lack of gravitational stimulation. Strength training, such as the use of equipment for upper limbs, lower limbs and core muscles, can increase muscle strength and mass, prevent muscle atrophy during space flight, help astronauts complete various tasks in space, and adapt to the earth's gravity environment more quickly after returning to Earth.

Balance and coordination training. In the space environment, objects are in a state of weightlessness, and people's sense of balance and coordination will be greatly affected. Astronauts will improve their body's sense of balance and coordination through training such as walking on the balance beam, standing on one foot with their eyes closed, and using a balance ball, so that they can accurately make equipment and move freely in the space vehicle, reducing the risk of making mistakes.

Vestibular function training. Space flight is prone to space motion sickness, which is mainly manifested as dizziness, nausea, vomiting, etc., which is related to the stimulation of the vestibular system. Through rotating seats, swings and other training equipment, the vestibular organs are stimulated, the stability of vestibular function is improved, the probability of space motion sickness is reduced, and astronauts can better adapt to various attitude changes and movements in space flight.

Flexibility training. Prolonged exposure to confined spaces and activities with specific movement patterns can lead to decreased muscle and joint mobility. Flexibility training such as yoga and stretching, with 20 minutes to 0 minutes a day, can increase the range of motion of the joints, improve muscle flexibility, reduce the risk of injury caused by muscle stiffness, and allow astronauts to complete various movements more flexibly in space.

How can non-scientists do scientific experiments in space?

These four astronauts are not scientists, but to undertake 22 scientific tasks, can ordinary people be trained to engage in space experiments? How to conduct experiments such as space X-rays, weightless exercise studies for musculoskeletal maintenance, and mushroom cultivation experiments in microgravity environments?

Pang Zhihao explained that although the four astronauts of the "Forward 2" mission are not scientists in the traditional sense, they have undergone targeted training before carrying out space missions.

In order to complete the X-ray in space, they were trained on equipment. "They were trained on the ground specifically for the X-ray equipment on board." Understand the principle, structure, usage and safety precautions of the equipment. Through the simulation trainer, we can repeatedly practice the opening of X-ray equipment, parameter setting, shooting process, and coordination with other equipment to ensure that you can use the equipment skillfully and accurately for shooting.

They were trained in medical knowledge. "They learned the basics of human anatomy and radiation medicine, understanding the purpose and significance of X-rays, and how to identify and record relevant image information. Know the possible appearance of human bones, muscles and other tissues under X-ray in the space environment, so as to better cooperate with the shooting and recording of data. ”

In order to conduct weightless exercise research for musculoskeletal maintenance, they also need to learn theoretical knowledge. Understand the mechanism of the influence of microgravity on the musculoskeletal system, such as muscle atrophy, bone loss and other related principles. Learn about exercise physiology and understand the role of different exercise styles and intensities in maintaining musculoskeletal health, and lay the theoretical foundation for conducting related research in space.

In addition, they conducted experimental training. For example, in the simulated weightless environment on the ground, such as weightless aircraft, water tanks, etc., specific sports experiments are carried out for training. It is also necessary to master the use of experimental equipment, such as instruments used to measure muscle strength and bone density changes, learn to carry out exercise intervention according to the predetermined experimental protocol, and accurately record experimental data, including changes in musculoskeletal related indicators before and after exercise.

In order to carry out experiments on mushroom cultivation in microgravity environments, they also learn about biology. For example, basic knowledge of plant biology, plant cultivation, etc., understand the growth cycle of mushrooms, growth conditions, such as temperature, humidity, light, nutrient requirements, etc. Learn about the special problems that plants may face in microgravity and how to deal with them. They were also trained in cultivation techniques. Through the cultivation experiment of simulated microgravity environment on the ground, the use and operation of space mushroom cultivation equipment are learned, including the preparation of culture medium, the inoculation of strains, and the regulation of environmental parameters. Familiarize yourself with the data recording and observation points during the experiment in order to accurately record the various stages and related data of mushroom growth in space.

"In addition, there is real-time remote support from a team of ground experts during the mission, and the astronauts can receive timely guidance when they encounter problems to ensure the smooth progress of various tests."

Q&A: What else do you care about?

Cover News:Do commercial astronauts wear the same spacesuits as professional astronauts? Can it be recycled?

Pang Zhihao:Each type of ship has a specific in-cabin spacesuit. The astronauts who take the "Manned Dragon" spacecraft to the sky should wear the cabin spacesuits developed for the astronauts of the spacecraft, and the functions of the professional and non-professional cabin spacesuits are basically the same, but they need to be tailored to each crew member, and they can be recycled, and they should be used by the same astronaut, otherwise they will not fit.

Cover News:Are the glasses worn by Wang Chun special?

Pang Zhihao:There are no reports on whether the glasses worn by Wang Chun are specially made. Strictly speaking, the glasses worn by astronauts in space should be specially made for several reasons. First, the space environment is special, and the correction of vision with ordinary glasses may not be accurate enough. The special glasses can accurately adjust the parameters according to the individual vision of the astronauts, ensuring that they can have good visual effects in the environment of space microgravity and other environments, and meet the needs of precision instruments and other tasks.

Second, there are high-energy cosmic rays and solar radiation in space, and special glasses can be added with anti-radiation coating to reduce radiation damage to the eyes and protect the eyesight of astronauts.

Third, it is made of lightweight, high-strength, high-temperature and impact-resistant special materials, which not only reduces the burden on the astronaut's head, but also adapts to the complex environment of space, and avoids the impact of material deformation and damage.

Fourth, there is a difference between the temperature and humidity in the space capsule and the ground, and the special glasses will be designed with a special breathable structure and anti-fogging function to prevent fogging due to temperature changes and affect the line of sight and ensure a clear vision.

Fifth, there are special fixtures or structures that can be worn stably in a microgravity environment to prevent floating and displacement, and not interfere with astronauts' actions and actions.

These people who took off were all ordinary people before. So ordinary people can also be trained to engage in space experiments. Are you intrigued?