CMS - China Manned Space logo.
April 16, 2023
The system reduces reliance on supplies from the ground "by six tonnes every year," claims a Chinese official.
An illustration of Chinese Space Station (CSS). Image Credit: CNSA
The China Space Station, with the Shenzhou-15 crew now in orbit, can produce 100 percent of its oxygen supply through its onboard regeneration system, according to an official speaking at a space technology conference held in Harbin City, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province on Thursday.
The development reflects a fundamental transformation of the environmental control and life-support system for China's manned spacecraft from "replenishment" to "regeneration," said Bian Qiang, director of the environmental control and life-support engineering office under the Astronaut Center of China.
As a key technology for China's manned space missions, the environmental control and life-support system creates basic living conditions and builds a liveable working environment for the astronauts, thus ensuring their health and safety.
The system comprises six regeneration subsystems for the following processes – oxygen production by water electrolysis, carbon dioxide removal, harmful gas removal, urine treatment, water treatment and water production with carbon dioxide and hydrogen.
"At present, the six systems are in stable operation, with 100 percent of the oxygen resources regenerated and 95 percent of the water resources recycled. This reduces the amount of supplies from the ground by six tonnes every year," said Bian, when addressing the third national manned spaceflight environmental control and life-support technology conference.
Image above: The Shenzhou-15 crew installs and tests a two-photon microscope in orbit. Image Credit: China manned space agency (CMS).
He said that the technology applied in the environmental control and life-support system ranks among the best in the world.
Over the past 55 years, experts have successfully developed three generations of environmental control and life-support system for China's manned spacecraft, as well as relevant products for Shenzhou spacecraft, extra-vehicular spacesuits and the three-module space station complex, according to Bian.
The Shenzhou 15 crew sent a video for the conference. Commander Fei Junlong said that he felt honored to witness the transformation of the environmental control and life-support technology on the space station, compared with the Shenzhou-6 mission 17 years ago. He felt good about working and living in space for over 100 days.
Related links:
China space white paper: http://www.cnsa.gov.cn/english/n6465652/n6465653/c6813088/content.html
China National Space Administration (CNSA): http://www.cnsa.gov.cn/english/index.html
Images (mentioned), Text, Credits: CNSA/CGTN/With input from Xinhua.
Best regards, Orbiter.ch
