How do astronauts know what time it is? Don't worry, they have "space watches"!

On Earth, we are used to working at sunrise and resting at sunset. But in space, the lives of astronauts are completely different from ours. Imagine if you experience a sunrise and sunset every 90 minutes, that is, 16 sunrises and sunsets every day, how fast the pace of life would be! The astronauts on China's Tiangong Space Station are experiencing such a life. In such an environment, how do astronauts grasp the time? Don't worry, they have a secret weapon - space watches. These are not ordinary watches, they are "time guardians" in space and are the right-hand men of astronauts when they perform their missions.

Sunlight falling on Earth from the window of the space station

Space Time Management

In space, the passage of time becomes blurred. Space watches have become an indispensable time manager for astronauts, telling them when to work and when to sleep. Space watches include in-cabin spacesuit watches (watches worn by astronauts when they put on in-cabin spacesuits and set off on a spacecraft, or when they return to Earth), in-cabin work watches, and extravehicular spacesuit watches (watches worn by astronauts when they put on extravehicular spacesuits and work outside the cabin). In addition to daily timing, space watches can also provide special timing for astronauts during takeoff, landing, in-orbit flight, and other stages. Astronauts sometimes even wear multiple watches at the same time, not to show off, but to manage time accurately. For example, these watches are used to display Earth time, record scientific experiment time, and flight mission time.

As a high-precision watch designed for the space environment, they must not only have the timing function of ordinary watches, but also be able to work normally under the extreme conditions in space. For example, high overload and strong vibration during launch or landing, large temperature differences, strong radiation and high magnetic fields in space, and other complex and harsh environments are all huge tests for the performance of space watches. In addition, it must also be able to cope with various acceleration environments and unpredictable factors that astronauts may encounter in space, only in this way can it ensure that the time is recorded accurately.

"Shenzhou V" cabin space suit watch

FIYTA Space Watch: Witness of Space Missions

So what kind of watch is qualified to be taken into space by astronauts? The first watch in my country that meets these extremely high requirements and participates in my country's manned space mission is the Fiyta Space Watch.

On October 15, 2003, this super watch withstood the severe test of space and accompanied Chinese astronaut Yang Liwei to successfully complete the first Chinese space journey, demonstrating its excellent performance. Since then, Fiyta Space Series watches have appeared in many of my country's manned space flight missions.

In order to ensure the efficient operation of astronauts during space missions, the weight of the space watch is strictly controlled in the design. Starting from the Shenzhou VI mission, some components of the space watch have been made of light and strong space metal titanium alloy to reduce weight and enhance durability. This makes the weight of this working watch as light as 60 grams. In addition, it has passed a number of environmental adaptability tests to ensure stable and reliable operation during space missions. Today, three FIYTA space watches - cabin space suit watches, working watches and extravehicular space suit watches, have accompanied the astronauts of the Shenzhou series of manned spacecraft to successfully launch and successfully complete one space mission after another.

These watches are not only valuable tools for astronauts in space, but also important witnesses of our exploration of the universe!

my country's first female astronaut work watch

The legend of flying: the watch of female astronauts

It is also worth mentioning that my country's first female astronaut work watch. It cleverly combines the myth of flying fairy in traditional Chinese culture and Dunhuang culture. In order to find the most suitable and perfect pattern, after carefully selecting hundreds of flying fairy images, the flying fairy image in the lotus flying fairy caisson in Cave 329 of Mogao Grottoes in Dunhuang was finally selected. The flying fairy pattern was designed based on this. The traditional Chinese cloisonné enamel craft was also used in the production process to inlay this exquisite pattern on the side of the watch. Doesn't this watch sound tough and cool, yet feminine and soft?

As a vital piece of equipment in the aerospace field, aerospace watches are the product of the wisdom and efforts of countless scientific and technological workers. Aerospace watches silently accompany astronauts in space and contribute to the great journey of exploring the universe. I believe that with the continuous advancement of science and technology, my country's manned deep space exploration will also take a solid step forward. By then, the aerospace watches accompanying Chinese astronauts will surely be eye-catching and full of "black technology".

The content is integrated from Shenzhen News Network, Jiemian News, etc.

(Scientific review: Zhu Linqi, Director of the Asia-Pacific Office of the Satellite Commercial Application Committee of the International Astronautical Federation, and specially appointed expert of the National Aerospace Science and Technology Achievement Transformation Service Group of the China Association for Science and Technology)