Shenzhou-19 Space Experiment Samples Delivered to Chinese Scientists
Samples from experiments in space, which returned to Earth on Wednesday with the crew of China's Shenzhou-19 space mission, have been transferred to scientists in Beijing for further research.
Shenzhou-19 astronauts brought back 22 types of experiment samples of space materials that are in four categories. These samples will be transported to Beijing together with the return capsule of the Shenzhou-19 spacecraft.
They include tungsten high entropy alloy, high-strength steel, lunar soil reinforcement material, and gel composite lubricating material.
The Technology and Engineering Center for Space Utilization under the Chinese Academy of Sciences said that the studies of these experiment samples will promote the production and application of key materials including those for the next-generation aero-engine turbine blades and nano-electronic components.
"We have been using some characteristics of the space environment. For instance, multiple alloys can be well mixed together in space, which ensures high quality and purity with few defects. In this way, we can produce in space some urgently needed materials which are difficult to prepare on Earth. In addition, if we go further to the Moon and Mars in the future, can we use resources on them to produce materials we need? So the ongoing experiments onboard the space station will provide some solutions to us," said Zhang Wei, a researcher with the center.
Some of the space material samples had undergone in-orbit exposure experiments, which can reveal the mechanisms that caused damage to the samples' microstructures, their performance degradation, as well as functional failure in space.
According to relevant statistics, over 70 percent of the malfunctions of spacecraft were directly or indirectly caused by the space environment.
"Through research on these samples which had undergone exposures to the space environment outside of the space station, we will promote space applications of high-performance and durable lunar soil reinforcement materials, some large and foldable structural materials like flexible solar wings, and some high-performance and long-life lubricating materials. These will provide very important technical support for our deep space explorations and human space activities," said Ma Ping, a senior designer with the center.
The Shenzhou-19 mission generated over 102 samples of 13 types, which have been returned to Earth for in-depth analyses by scientists. These studies are expected to produce scientific outcomes in fundamental research, new materials, space radiation effects and hypomagnetic biological mechanisms.
Duration: 1 minute, 28 seconds
Release Date: May 1, 2025
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