Developed and built by the Chinese Academy of Sciences, it is the first in Asia! Experiments will begin soon →

Not long ago, Asia's first electromagnetic catapult microgravity experimental device developed and built by the Space Application Center of the Chinese Academy of Sciences started trial operation.

Recently, this experimental device started the first batch of microgravity experiments. What is the "electromagnetic ejection microgravity experimental device"? How does it achieve microgravity? Let's learn about it today.

Electromagnetic ejection microgravity experimental device

Bringing "space" to the ground

The 4-second electromagnetic ejection microgravity experiment device, developed and built by the Space Application Center of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, is the first electromagnetic ejection microgravity experiment device in Asia .

It is 44.5 meters high. The entire experimental device is a steel frame structure, like a "big elevator", with no welding used, and all connections are precisely riveted together with more than 40,000 bolts.

In the middle of the "big elevator" is a cylindrical device that can move up and down. It is the experimental cabin of the entire experimental device. It has a diameter of 1.2 meters, a height of 2 meters, and weighs 500 kilograms.

How to use this experimental cabin? Load the experimental samples in the cabin, then eject the cabin upward at a speed of 20 meters per second, and then fall back. This process can provide the experimental samples with a microgravity environment for 4 seconds. The ejection process uses electromagnetic ejection technology.

Using experimental equipment

First scientific experiments started

The four seconds of microgravity have already played a role in scientific research. Researchers recently used the electromagnetic catapult microgravity experimental device to carry out the first batch of scientific experiments, including a microgravity spray cooling experiment.

This experiment is designed to solve the problem of cooling and temperature control for long-term stable operation of ultra-high power and ultra-high heat flux devices inside the spacecraft.

See what happened in the test chamber

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What kind of experiments may require such a microgravity environment? Zhang Yongkang, an associate researcher at the Space Application Center of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, said that it is mainly some high-precision equipment and cutting-edge physics experiments that require this absolute microgravity level.

The electromagnetic catapult microgravity experimental device can also simulate the gravity of the moon and Mars through precise control to conduct relevant scientific experiments.

Which company has the best ejection technology?

Watch the live experiment

Electromagnetic catapult uses electromagnetic induction to achieve catapult.

The electromagnetic catapults used on aircraft carriers and in many large scientific facilities all utilize the traveling wave magnetic field of linear motors.

What are the common ejection methods in life? What is the difference between electromagnetic ejection and other ejection methods?

Watch the video to learn more

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20-second electromagnetic ejection microgravity experimental device

Planning

The 4-second electromagnetic ejection microgravity experiment device has started the first batch of experiments, and a larger-scale 20-second electromagnetic ejection microgravity experiment device is also being planned, and its capability level will be further expanded and improved.

Compared with the 4-second microgravity device, the various indicators of the new generation of 20-second electromagnetic ejection microgravity experimental device will be further improved , providing more efficient and convenient ground-based micro/low-gravity technology verification conditions for major national projects such as manned space flight and deep space exploration.

Zhang Jianquan, director of the Electromagnetic Technology Research Laboratory at the Space Application Center of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, said: "In the future, if our major scientific and technological infrastructure operates to a certain level and there are no problems with safety verification, people can also go inside to conduct weightlessness training for astronauts, or experience weightlessness and space."

Planning and production

Source: People's Daily Online, CCTV Military Comprehensive CCTV-13 "News Live Room"

Editor: Cui Yinghao