Fire drill and 'mind control': Life aboard China's space station

The three astronauts of the Shenzhou-21 mission have been turning China's Space Station into both a cutting-edge lab and a survival training ground, as they conduct safety drills and advanced scientific experiments aimed at supporting long-term human presence in orbit.

Orbiting about 400 kilometers above Earth, the crew recently completed a series of emergency preparedness exercises. These included a simulated onboard fire drill, during which the astronauts practiced rapid evacuation procedures between station modules. They also carried out manual docking training, rehearsing the use of hand controls to guide a spacecraft in the event of an automated system failure. In addition, the crew conducted a medical emergency drill to ensure quick access to life-saving equipment in a zero-gravity environment.

Beyond safety training, the crew is working on technology that sounds like science fiction. Using VR headsets and brain-wave sensors, they are studying how weightlessness affects the way the brain sends signals to the eyes. This research is a major step toward developing brain-computer interfaces, which could eventually allow humans to control robots or computers using nothing but their thoughts.

The mission is also looking at more practical needs, such as how to keep the lights on during deep-space travel. The crew is currently studying the inner workings of lithium-ion batteries in orbit to help scientists develop more reliable power sources for future trips to the Moon or Mars.

Since arriving at the station last October, the Shenzhou-21 crew has already completed a successful handover from the previous team and performed their first spacewalk, proving that they are well-prepared for the long journey ahead.