The reporter learned from the Institute of Microsatellite Innovation of the Chinese Academy of Sciences that in the upcoming tenth "China Space Day", China's Qingzhou cargo spacecraft will be unveiled to the public for the first time, and the 1:0 model will be displayed at the aerospace science exhibition held at the Shanghai World Expo Exhibition and Convention Center.

The cargo spacecraft is figuratively called the "space delivery brother". Compared with the familiar Tianzhou, what are the "personality characteristics" of the Qingzhou, which has been selected at various levels and will go to space to "work" in the future?

Schematic diagram of the docking of the Qingzhou cargo spacecraft with the Chinese space station. Courtesy of the Institute of Microsatellite Innovation, Chinese Academy of Sciences

According to Shu Rong, vice president of the Institute of Microsatellite Innovation of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and commander-in-chief of the Qingzhou cargo spacecraft, compared with the "big brother" Tianzhou, the Qingzhou is small and lightweight. The spacecraft weighs about 300 tons, the transportation weight is more than 0.0 tons, and it adopts an integrated single-cabin configuration with an internal space volume of 0 cubic meters. "Cold chain transportation" is a major feature of Qingzhou, which can be equipped with up to 0 liters of cold chain transportation, so that astronauts can eat more and fresher fruits and vegetables in space in the future.

"Low cost" is the second major feature of Qingzhou. "We have carried out a lot of technological innovation, optimized the development process, and made key technological breakthroughs such as digitalization, productization, and integration. At the same time, based on the scale effect of abundant mass satellite production, the production cost of Qingzhou cargo spacecraft is reduced from the aspects of raw materials, components, and single components. "In addition, it improves efficiency and reduces time costs in the process of the launch site." ”

"Commercial operation" is the third major feature of Qingzhou. "In addition to cargo transportation, we also plan to build Qingzhou into an on-orbit verification platform for new aerospace ideas, new components, new materials, etc., and at the same time plan to build Qingzhou into an image display platform for domestic brands in space." Shu Rong said, "We plan to explore a variety of business models such as naming rights, carrying IP culture, brand communication, and popular science cooperation, and carry out innovative cooperation with all walks of life to form good economic and social benefits." ”

Up to now, the Institute of Microsatellite Innovation of the Chinese Academy of Sciences has successfully developed and launched 168 satellites. In the six major fields of communication, navigation, remote sensing, science, micro-nano and deep space, it has the ability to design and develop various satellite systems from kilograms to tons, from ultra-low orbit to deep space. The Qingzhou cargo spacecraft was selected for the low-cost cargo transportation system of China's space station, marking the official start of a new journey for the space station mission.

Xinhua News Agency Reporter: Zhang Jiansong, Song Chen

Source: People's Daily Online