Before launch, their engines must come here for a "test"!

The Beijing Institute of Spacecraft Testing and Technology was established in 1958. It is the earliest, largest, most fully functional and technologically advanced aerospace liquid propulsion comprehensive test and verification center in my country. Here, various engines and rocket propulsion systems used on rockets, satellites, spacecrafts and space probes must complete the last "test" before launch. After passing the "test", they will go to space.

Beijing Institute of Aerospace Testing Technology

Now, let Pupu take you to see those interesting engine "special examination rooms"!

The "examination room" of the last stage engine of the "gold medal rocket": Platform No. 2

The No. 2 test platform was built in 1960. It is my country's first cryogenic liquid rocket engine test platform and also my country's first hydrogen-oxygen rocket engine test platform. It has undertaken the development and development of multiple types of liquid rocket engines and was awarded the "Space Liquid Propulsion Meritorious Test Platform" in 2022.

Channel 2

The "examination room" of the "Chang'e" and "Tianwen" space engines: the No. 3 high-altitude simulation test bench

The No. 3 high-altitude simulation test bench is the largest high-altitude simulation test bench for space engines in my country. It can simulate the high-vacuum and extremely low-temperature space environment and conduct high-altitude simulated ignition tests for space engines. The orbit correction engines and near-moon/near-fire braking variable thrust engines of my country's "Chang'e" series of lunar probes and "Tianwen-1" Mars probe have all passed the "test" here and completed the test mission.

Chang'e-3 probe, Chang'e-5 probe, Tianwen-1 probe and No. 3 high-altitude simulation test platform

The "examination room" of the core first-stage rocket engine of the "Fat Five": Platform No. 4

Platform No. 4 was built in 1963. It is my country's first full-rocket propulsion system test platform. There is a story behind its establishment.

On March 21, 1962, the first medium-range missile independently developed by my country was launched for the first time in Jiuquan. After taking off, the missile swung violently for tens of seconds until it was completely out of control and eventually crashed. According to expert analysis, one of the reasons for the failure was that the missile was not fully tested on the ground, so that some problems were not exposed in advance before launch. Therefore, the No. 4 station and a series of facilities were quickly built, and then undertook the test of the Dongfeng-2 and Long March-3 third-stage power systems.

Channel 4

Now, Platform 4 serves as a dedicated test bench for the core first-stage main engine of my country's new generation of carrier rocket Long March 5 series. It is my country's largest liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen engine complete machine test bench. It is responsible for the calibration test of the YF-77 engine before installation and the identification test to improve reliability, helping my country's major aerospace engineering missions such as lunar exploration, Mars exploration, and space station.

Station 4 is working

Protect you and warm you: See how aerospace materials enter our lives!

The Beijing Institute of Spaceflight Testing and Technology also has the only "Space Liquid Propellant Research Center" in my country. It has completed the research and finalization of products such as nitrogen tetroxide, green nitrogen tetroxide, anhydrous hydrazine, methyl hydrazine, unsymmetrical dimethyl hydrazine, and single-thrust three, serving the launch of various types of satellites, rockets, missiles and ships in my country, and has made important contributions to the development of my country's aerospace and national defense.

The radiotherapy and orthopedic low-temperature thermoplastic plates developed to assist medical treatment become soft after being exposed to warm water and fit the shape of the human body, which can improve the accuracy of radiotherapy and orthopedic positioning. The skin-friendly gel positioning pads designed for long-term bedridden patients and disabled people can achieve a 50% decompression effect, prevent bedsores, and improve comfort.

Skin-friendly gel positioning pad (left) and low-temperature thermoplastic plate

Aerospace thermal insulation materials help the "Technology Winter Olympics" and allow athletes and volunteers to enjoy the ultimate thermal insulation experience. This material is antibacterial and antifouling, has high thermal insulation, high compression rebound, excellent far-infrared performance and super antibacterial performance, and its excellent performance has been unanimously recognized by the Winter Olympics expert group.

Clothes made of aerospace thermal insulation materials

In addition, aerospace materials are also used in many fields such as new energy vehicles, household appliances, personal protection, etc., contributing to our better life.

Dear friends, do you know what other materials in our lives come from aerospace technology?