China's Shenzhou-17 crew work in China's space station. /CMS
China's space station, orbiting about 400 kilometers from Earth, always enjoys spring-like temperatures, which provides an optimal environment for the Chinese astronauts, or taikonauts, to work and live.
Keeping them safe from the extreme temperatures in the space station, which could soar to 150 degrees Celsius in direct sunlight and plummet to -100 degrees Celsius in the darkness, is an advanced thermal control system.
The closed-loop circuits of a thermal control system in China's space station. /CMS
The system uses fluid closed-loop circuits in every corner of the cabin. Through the continuous circulation of a special liquid inside the pipes, it collects the heat generated by equipment and taikonauts, and then transports the heat through the circuits to the appropriate equipment and structures, cooling down overheated areas and warming up areas that are too cold.
Therefore, the system not only provides comfortable conditions for taikonauts, but also ensures the normal operation of equipment and installed testing payloads that require heat control.
Taikonauts grow vegetables in China Space Station. /CMS
The environment allows the growing of vegetables in the space station as well.
Taikonauts growing vegetables in the space station can not only study the effects of special space environments, such as microgravity, on plant growth and physiology, but also alleviate their own pressure and positively regulate psychological emotions. More importantly, they can also get food, oxygen and water this way.
The life-sustaining functions of plants play a crucial role in establishing a self-sufficient extraterrestrial life support system, significantly reducing the logistical supply costs for long-term manned missions. Research on extraterrestrial life support systems that use plants as core components is ongoing.