Space Log: Shenzhou-20 crew completes various tasks over past week

The Shenzhou-20 crew aboard China's space station conducted various scientific experiments and tests last week, according to the China Manned Space Agency.

China launched the cargo spacecraft Tianzhou-9 on July 15 to deliver supplies to its orbiting space station. The spacecraft carried approximately 6.5 tonnes of essential cargo, including consumables for the crew, propellant and equipment for application experiments and tests. This is the largest amount of cargo sent to the space station since Tianzhou-6.

After receiving the equipment and supplies, the Shenzhou-20 crew carried out a range of experiments, research activities and tests.

In the field of aerospace medicine, the crew transported cell experiment units to the human system research cabinet to conduct relevant experiments. They completed manual observation of sample images, sample recovery and preservation, and other related tasks. This research contributes not only to understanding the impact of long-term spaceflight on astronauts' physical functions but also to addressing health issues affecting the general public on Earth.

In the fields of space life science and biotechnology, multiple scientific experiments were conducted using the biotechnology experiment cabinet. These included studying the influence and mechanisms of the microgravity environment on the migration of skeletal muscle precursor cells, as well as researching the biological functions of nucleic acid lipid nanocarriers under microgravity. The data obtained will help deepen researchers' understanding of the physiology and pathology of organisms and provide a scientific foundation for safeguarding human health.

During the week, the crew also carried out musculoskeletal research by collecting foot pressure and joint kinematics data during running and resistance exercises under varying load conditions in flight. They mapped the relationship between different exercise parameters and foot pressure.

Additionally, astronauts used specialized equipment to perform sliding tests and gathered data to study the variation patterns and cognitive mechanisms of fine motor control in microgravity conditions.

In the field of microgravity physical science, the crew, following the scientific experiment schedule for microgravity combustion, completed the replacement of the sampling cover of the gas experiment plug-in, the setting and restoration of the exhaust gas emission state, and other related tasks.

The Shenzhou-20 crew also completed several routine tasks as planned, including equipment inspection and maintenance of the regenerative life support system, environmental monitoring inside the station, cargo transfer and material organization, routine medical examinations, and exercises to counter the effects of weightlessness.