Flexible ship covers, hatch protection covers... revealing the "black technology" on Tianzhou 6

On the evening of May 10, my country successfully launched the Tianzhou-6 cargo spacecraft using the Long March-7 carrier rocket at the Wenchang Space Launch Center. On the 11th, the Tianzhou-6 cargo spacecraft successfully docked at the rear port of the Tianhe core module of the space station. In this mission, what technological products escorted the Tianzhou-6 cargo spacecraft?

High-tech boat suits: flexible "armor" that fits snugly and looks stylish

After the Tianzhou-6 cargo spacecraft completes final assembly and comprehensive testing, it needs to be transferred and carried out for the next step. During this period, it must adapt to the special environment of high temperature, high humidity and high salt fog in Hainan.

To this end, the Fifth Academy of China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation has tailored a new type of flexible ship suit for it. The main structure of this ship suit is composed of an inner layer, a core and an outer layer. It can not only block the impact of high temperature, humidity and high salt fog environment on the spacecraft, but also serve as an "armor" to prevent rain, dust, lightning and pollution.

For the first time, the developers adopted the rigid-flexible design concept and specially designed a support device for the front cone section of the boat cover to effectively prevent the boat cover from bumping into and scratching sensitive equipment and cables. They also designed "hats" of different sizes for the large number of load equipment protrusions in the rear cone section to strengthen the protection of individual loads, making the flexible boat cover both "close-fitting" and "stylish" to wear.

At 21:22 on May 10, the Long March 7 Y7 carrier rocket carrying the Tianzhou 6 cargo spacecraft ignited and launched at my country's Wenchang Space Launch Center. About 10 minutes later, the spacecraft and rocket successfully separated and entered the predetermined orbit. After that, the spacecraft's solar panels started working smoothly, and the launch was a complete success. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Jin Liwang

Hatch door protection cover: a "cover" to ensure safe entry and exit

After the Tianzhou-6 cargo spacecraft completes its "space hand-in-hand" with the space station, the astronauts will enter the cargo spacecraft through the hatch and disassemble the "big gift package" from Earth.

In order to ensure the safety and convenience of astronauts entering and exiting the cabin and working and living in orbit, the researchers of the 508th Institute of the Fifth Academy of China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation designed two specifications of hatch door protection covers for use inside and outside the cabin. When astronauts work and live in the cabin, they only need to open the mouth of the "skeleton-type" hatch door protection cover and put it on the hatch door like putting a dust cover on a TV or air conditioner to protect the safety of the entire hatch door.

When astronauts exit the cabin, their flexibility and gripping ability are reduced due to the restrictions of the heavy extravehicular suits and gloves. The extravehicular protective cover is designed as a "rolling curtain" structure. It only needs to fix the handles on the left and right sides to the corresponding positions of the cabin door. It can be installed with a few simple operations of "grabbing", "putting on" and "pulling", protecting the astronauts' safe entry and exit.

The picture taken at the Beijing Aerospace Flight Control Center on May 11 shows the Tianzhou-6 cargo spacecraft approaching the space station complex. Xinhua News Agency reporter Guo Zhongzheng

Solar array: "Giant wings" full of power

Compared with the cargo capacity of previous batches of cargo spacecraft, the Tianzhou-6 cargo spacecraft has been expanded again, and the cargo loading capacity of the whole ship has been increased to 7.4 tons. This requires a solar "giant energy wing" to ensure that it is always fully powered.

The semi-rigid solar array "wings" built by China Electronics Technology Group Corporation for the Tianzhou-6 cargo spacecraft can generate enough electricity in one day to meet the electricity consumption of an ordinary household for more than half a month, ensuring the supply of electricity needed for Tianzhou-6 to "carry cargo" and for astronauts to stay in orbit and carry out their work.

After the "giant energy wings" are unfolded, the direction can be continuously adjusted through the solar sail panel drive mechanism during the flight, so that the solar cells are aimed at the sun and a steady supply of solar energy is obtained.

Precision components: "all kinds of skills" to escort

The space station flies in orbit for a long time and its fuel is constantly consumed, so cargo spacecraft are needed to replenish "propellant" in orbit, which is called "space refueling."

The "hybrid stepper motor-screw assembly" developed by China Electronics Technology Group Corporation is like the "booster" of a "fuel gun", providing power for the connection and disconnection of the propellant replenishment pipeline, thereby ensuring the smooth implementation of the "space refueling" mission.

The developers also equipped the Tianzhou-6 cargo spacecraft with more than 100 sensors of more than 10 types to accurately measure the pressure, temperature, humidity, gas, displacement and other signals within each system, and monitor the environmental stability and on-orbit operation in the cargo cabin. This can not only build a "highway" for satellite-to-ground communications, but also enable the spacecraft to communicate quickly with satellites in space.

In order to ensure the stable and reliable operation of the power supply equipment of the Tianzhou-VI cargo spacecraft, the Microelectronics Company of the 23rd Institute of the China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation of China has developed matching magnetic components. These components are light in weight and small in size. The smallest one is about the size of a 5-cent coin. They are core components in the power supply circuit and can suppress current mutations caused by environmental changes and improve the equipment's ability to resist electromagnetic interference.

A simulated image of the Tianzhou-6 cargo spacecraft completing rendezvous and docking with the space station complex, taken at the Beijing Aerospace Flight Control Center on May 11. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Guo Zhongzheng

Multiplexed storage: unified scheduling of "data stewards"

In the vast space, how to accurately grasp the flight status of the Tianzhou-6 cargo spacecraft? Is it docking, docking or detaching? The multiplexing memory is the key for the ground to determine the health status and delivery status of the Tianzhou-6 cargo spacecraft, and plays the key role of the spacecraft's "data steward".

The multiplexer memory developed by the 9th Academy of China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation for the Tianzhou series of cargo spacecraft integrates the functions of two devices, the multiplexer and the memory, into one device. It can be said to be "small in size but big in power."

After the operating status data of various equipment on the spacecraft are gathered in the multiplexed memory, it will be used for unified scheduling and management, which not only ensures a significant increase in the data volume of the Tianzhou-6 cargo spacecraft, but also enables the ground measurement and control system to quickly, accurately and completely obtain the operating status of the spacecraft, take control measures in a timely manner, and ensure the smooth completion of the flight mission. (Reporters Song Chen, Chen Kaizi, Wen Jinghua)