Space technology comes right down to Earth

More than 4,000 technologies developed for China’s managed space program are widely used in many sectors. For example, space reproduction technology alone has generated more than 200 billion yuan ($ 30 billion) to date, officials said.

Last month, Hao Chun, director of China’s Manned Space Agency, said at a news briefing that the country’s space program was a good cause of “high and low ground”. He added that its evolution will drive developments in related industries and promote great socioeconomic development.

In the 30 years that China’s manned space program has been active, more than 4,000 technological breakthroughs have been widely used, driving innovation in sectors such as raw materials, microelectronics, machinery manufacturing and communications.

For example, space breeding technology not only promotes plant improvement, but is also used in fields such as food processing and bacterial and biopharmaceutical cultivation. As a result, it has generated economic benefits and contributed to food security and environmental protection.

Hao said manned space flight is an activity that showcases the most complex systems, the most powerful achievements and the most dynamic innovations.

For example, the heat control systems of liquid-powered rocket engines can be used to upgrade the gasification of pressure pulverized coal combustion, solve problems related to household waste disposal and improve to make hydrogen fuel cells.

In addition, research and development processes for technologies related to controls, measurement, image processing and other components used in rockets, spacecraft and space stations can be improved. upgrading intelligent industry control systems.

Heat-resistant base technology of manned spacecraft is used to manufacture heat insulation materials for civilian use. The recent Winter Olympics in Beijing also adopted a number of aerospace technologies for use in opening and closing ceremonies, as well as training equipment for athletes.

Many space technologies have also been adapted for civilian use, such as instant food and daily necessities including diapers, while space protein crystallization has been researched to help develop new medicine to treat osteoporosis and muscular dystrophy.

In addition, space environment management and life-supporting technologies, and research on microgravity combustion mechanisms and research on new materials can also be translated into various fields related to life and will provide many benefits, according to Hao.

“In the future, China’s space station will conduct many experiments in space life science, space materials science, microgravity fluid physics and space medicine, which are expected to achieve significant results and results. success in scientific exploration and applied research, ”he said.

“We believe these technologies will be more frequently used to serve socioeconomic development, the national economy and the lives of the people.”

Space technologies have served the daily life of the worldwide history of space exploration.

The commercialization of adult diapers was rapidly promoted in the 1960s after NASA astronaut Alan Shepherd reportedly had to urinate in his spacesuit while awaiting the launch of Freedom 7 in 1961.

The air cushion shoe was obtained from a process known as “blow rubber molding” used by NASA to make the spacesuit. In 1979, Frank Rudy, a NASA employee, came up with the idea of ​​using this sealed cushioning system as the midsole of the shoe and put it on Nike Inc.

That pitch resulted in the birth of Nike Air, one of the company’s bestselling lines.

Freeze-dry food is also a regular item in diets today, thanks to space technology. In the early days of the U.S. space program, an important problem was making sure astronauts were fed while in orbit. As a result, NASA is funding research on several possible ways to preserve food.

The freeze-dried technique removes the water contained in the fruit and vegetables while retaining the nutrients.

The technique not only helped improve astronauts ’cooking, but was also used in the daily food storage of the civilian world.

Many of the more common aspects of daily life come from space technologies.

From smoke detectors, computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging in hospitals to solar panels, sunglasses and bar codes, people are enjoying the convenience that these space -based technologies bring every day.