How do astronauts use electricity in space?

At 9:22 on June 17, astronauts Nie Haisheng, Liu Boming and Tang Hongbo were launched into space on the Shenzhou XII spacecraft. According to the plan, they will stay in the Tianhe core module of the space station for three months.

▲Astronauts training in a simulated space scene. (Photo from: Xinhua News Agency)

A carefully crafted "space home"

Welcome guests

The Tianhe core module is the astronauts' "space home". Speaking of the "decoration" of this home, I wonder if you have read the "spoiler".

To sum up

✔ Three bedrooms, two living rooms and a storage room, 100% luxurious starry sky suite

✔ Upgrade your private sleeping bag, from “standing sleeping” to “lying sleeping”

✔ More than 120 kinds of food, heat or refrigerate as you like

✔ A treadmill and a spinning bike, your own private gym

✔ Wrap-around shower room, showering in space is also a "basic operation"

✔ Full mobile WiFi coverage, you can surf the Internet even in the sky

✔ Private voice channel, "Sky-Earth Talk" to share life in space

✔ Sleep mode, work mode, exercise mode...exclusive APP adjusts the cabin lighting, space life is also colorful

▲Interior view of the Tianhe core module. (Photo from: China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation)

Sorry, I was being a little "Versailles" just now.

This day and the core module are so awesome!

To be honest, the conditions of the space station are getting better and better, and every detail reveals full sincerity, which shows that our country's aerospace industry is developing rapidly.

China’s space station must not only be reachable, but also provide a comfortable living environment!

Like it!

Solar energy + energy storage, no worries about electricity consumption, space power supply company imagines

At this point, Toutiao's occupational disease came back: With so many devices, it must use a lot of electricity, right? Where does the electricity come from? Is it enough? After some investigation, Toutiao patted his chest and said that there is no need to worry about the electricity problem.

❖ Manned spacecraft: Probably uses about the same amount of electricity as your air conditioner

The power consumption of a spacecraft is actually not that high.

Before entering the space station, astronauts mainly stay in the spacecraft. Generally speaking, manned spacecraft can be powered by solar power generation, nuclear power generation, fuel cells and batteries.

The power supply method should be determined based on factors such as the power consumption of the manned spacecraft and the length of time it stays in space.

It is reported that the power system of Shenzhou XII is mainly composed of solar panels and energy storage batteries. The solar panels can convert solar energy into electricity for use in the spacecraft.

Public data shows that the power of the Shenzhou 9 spacecraft is only 1,800 watts, which is equivalent to the power of an ordinary household air conditioner or a high-power microwave oven. After a day of flying, such a "big guy" consumes only more than 40 degrees of electricity.

Micro-wave oven

❖ Tianhe core module: The solar panel may be as big as your house

The Tianhe core module, which is luxuriously equipped, consumes a lot of electricity. Its power supply system is similar to that of a spacecraft, but it is much larger and consists of the following parts:

Energy source: Sun

Power generation: Flexible solar cell wings

Energy storage: lithium-ion battery

▲Interior of the Tianhe core module. (Photo from: China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation)

The Tianhe core module is equipped with a set of solar panels with a power generation capacity of 18,000 watts. The area of ​​a single wing is 67 square meters, and the area of ​​a double wing is more than 130 square meters, which may be about the same size as your house.

▲ Schematic diagram of the space station. (Photo from: China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation)

In the illuminated area, the solar wing converts solar energy into electrical energy for the entire cabin and stores energy in the lithium-ion battery. In the shadow area where the sun cannot shine, the battery is responsible for powering the entire cabin. The battery uses a ceramic diaphragm, which has good internal short-circuit prevention performance; at the same time, the battery pack uses flame-retardant materials to prevent combustion due to high temperature, which is very safe.

▲The Shenzhou manned spacecraft rendezvoused and docked with the Tianhe core module of the space station and the Tianzhou cargo spacecraft assembly. (Photo from: China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation)

This powerful power system, in simple terms, is a form of "solar power generation plus energy storage" that is both efficient and clean.

Toutiao has speculated that with the development of aerospace technology and power technology, will it be necessary to establish a space power supply company in the future?

▲The Tianhe core module passed through Beijing and left an arc in the sky. (Photo from: Visual China)

Behind the launch of Shenzhou

They are guarding with tents on their backs

Behind the successful launch of the spacecraft, there is a group of people who silently guarded near the Jiuquan launch base. They are the employees of the State Grid Corporation of China.

The launch base also needs electricity for spacecraft launches. A 110 kV substation is the power supply for the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Base, which is very far away from the urban area.

In order to complete the task of power supply protection, power supply workers have to inspect hundreds of kilometers of transmission lines, along the Gobi Desert, step by step to check every tower and every section of line...

They carried tents on their backs and set up their tents wherever they went, and they ate and slept in the Gobi Desert.

They told Toutiao that although it was hard work, it was worth it! They were very proud and very proud!