By 
June 12th, 2020
Credit: CCTV/Inside Outer Space screengrab
The return capsule of the trial version of China’s new-generation manned spaceship was opened in Beijing recently, with the interior arrangements now being shown to the public.
Credit: CCTV/Inside Outer Space screengrab
The craft landed safely on May 8 at the Dongfeng landing site and is designed for transportation of both astronauts and cargo.
Credit: CCTV/Inside Outer Space screengrab
The right side of the vehicle carried nearly 1,000 pieces of supplies to verify the spaceship’s cargo capacity. The left side of the craft was configured as a living area for astronauts, with a folding table and a toilet.
Credit: CCTV/Inside Outer Space screengrab
Split design
“The entire work area for astronauts in the future will not include the racks and cargo bags on the right side which were designed for test this time,” said Tian Zheng, deputy chief designer of the general assembly of the new-generation manned test spaceship under the China Academy of Space Technology.
Credit: CCTV/Inside Outer Space screengrab
“The space inside is about 13 cubic meters,” Tian explained, “which is larger than that of previous ones. According to our plan, it’s big enough for six to seven astronauts.”
Credit: CCTV/Inside Outer Space screengrab
Cargo
The cargo onboard China’s new-generation spacecraft prototype was revealed during a ceremony held by the China Manned Space Engineering Office and the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation.
Credit: CCTV/Inside Outer Space screengrab
The spacecraft transported scientific experiments, seeds, Chinese herbal medicine, the national flags of Pakistan and Argentina, and some youth science test items.
The spacecraft was launched by a Long March-5B launch vehicle from the Wenchang Space Launch Center, Wenchang, Hainan Province, China, on May 5, 2020.
Credit: CCTV/Inside Outer Space screengrab
On orbit, the capsule was used for China’s first on-orbit leakage and collision detection experiment and to test 3D printing in space.
Credit: CCTV/Inside Outer Space screengrab
Independently developed by China, the 3D printer automatically completed the task of printing two samples, a hive-shaped part and a logo of China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC), during space flight, confirming the scientific research purpose of 3D printing composite materials in a microgravity environment.
Credit: CCTV/Inside Outer Space screengrab
A special film material was used to achieve a strong adhesion with composite interface. Even when it bore a huge impact while the capsule returned, the sample part and the substrate remained firmly bonded.
Credit: CCTV/Inside Outer Space screengrab
According to the research and development team, the 3D printing system, its work process was entirely automatically controlled, achieved several technological breakthroughs.
“The completion of 3D printing in space is actually to achieve space manufacturing. We are the first to use a continuous filament reinforced composite material, principally because the composite material is the main load-bearing structure material of the spacecraft,” explains Chen Yi, deputy head technologist, space 3D printing system project, China Academy of Space Technology Corporation (CAST), China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC).
Chen Yi, deputy head technologist, space 3D printing system project, China Academy of Space Technology Corporation (CAST), China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC). Credit: CCTV/Inside Outer Space screengrab
The researchers will further compare and analyze the samples printed in space and on Earth, evaluating the molding quality of 3D printing in space. “The completion of 3D printing in space is actually to achieve space manufacturing. We are the first to use a continuous filament reinforced composite material, principally because the composite material is the main load-bearing structure material of the spacecraft,” adds Chen.
To view the China Central Television (CCTV) video showing the split design of China’s new-generation manned spaceship, go to:
Also go to this Inside China’s new crewed spacecraft video at:
Posted in Space News
