THE Shenzhou-20 crew aboard China’s Tiangong space station completed a variety of tasks last week, including unpacking new extravehicular spacesuits and performing multiple scientific experiments and tests, according to the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA). The Taikonaut trio — Chen Dong, Chen Zhongrui and Wang Jie — entered the Tiangong space station April 25 this year. They have completed a series of duties in orbit since then. Last week, the crew unpacked two new sets of extravehicular spacesuits transported by the Tianzhou-9 cargo craft, and conducted functional performance tests and maintenance. The design lifespan of the two suits, designated D and E, has been significantly extended from 15 extravehicular activities (EVAs) within three years to 20 EVAs within four years. EVA spacesuits are like miniature space stations: They should be equipped with critical life support and communication systems akin to those on a space station. Key technical requirements of a spacesuit include lightweight and compact designs to prevent issues during spacewalk entries and exits, while also extending operational duration, reliability and safety. Meanwhile, a series of on-orbit experiments progressed smoothly. In the field of space life science and biotechnology, the crew used organ-on-a-chip technology to study the effects of the space environment on the blood-brain barrier and brain function at cellular, tissue, and organ levels, while exploring the underlying mechanisms. This research will help predict health risks and develop related interventions for astronauts during long-term space missions. The crew completed several space medical experiments as well, such as investigating bone metabolism regulation and studying microbiota and nutritional metabolism. Crew commander Chen Dong used Raman spectroscopy to analyze urinary metabolic components, providing important data to support ground researchers in refining the assessment system for space metabolic indicators. The three astronauts also conducted research on the impact of respiratory microorganisms on the respiratory system in the space environment by collecting throat swab samples. In terms of new technology and applications, the crew conducted microbial control experiments in the extraterrestrial habitat. They used bacterial detection plates to compare microbial levels on the selected module before and after disinfection, thus evaluating the effectiveness of the disinfection process. The trio also installed the experimental setup for the material-energy conversion and regeneration system. Through comparative space-ground experiments, the research team will verify the wastewater purification and energy recovery performance of microbial fuel cells in space. In the field of microgravity physical science, the crew completed combustion experiments, which included replacing the burner within the experimental module. Furthermore, the crew completed the installation and testing of a -80 degrees Celsius space refrigerator in the Wentian lab module, and carried out the replacement of the core module’s sleeping compartment door. (SD-Agencies) | 