AndrewJin
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I want to watch spaceship launch one day.
China’s Tianzhou-1 cargo ship launched successfully
- Thread starter Godman
- Start date
TaiShang
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Same here. Hainan is very popular among Taiwan visitors to Mainland (as if living on a tiny island was not enough
).Just make sure a visit to the island coincides with a planned launch, of which China has plenty.
But, a major launch like this would be much more memorable.
cirr
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China Exclusive: Are human space babies conceivable? Tianzhou-1 experiment may give clue
2017-04-21 02:55:50 GMT
017-04-21 10:55:50(Beijing Time) Xinhua English
By Xinhua writer Yu Fei
BEIJING, April 21 (Xinhua) -- As astronauts continue to break records for time spent in space and manned Mars exploration is under discussion, scientists in China have begun a groundbreaking study to determine if humans can reproduce in space.
Scientists will for the first time conduct an experiment to induce the differentiation of human embryonic stem cells into germ cells on China's first cargo spacecraft, Tianzhou-1.
The experiment aims to study the effects of the space environment on human reproduction, beginning with the study of microgravity on human stem cells and germ cells, says Kehkooi Kee, lead researcher on the project.
Kee, a Malaysia Chinese professor at China's prestigious Tsinghua University, says the unprecedented experiment will study the basic development and maturation of germ cells in the micro-gravity environment, and the developmental potential of human embryonic stem cells.
The research is expected to provide a theoretical basis and technical support to solve the possible problems of human reproduction caused by the space environment, Kee said.
"It's an important experiment because it is the first step towards directly understanding human reproduction during space exploration," he says.
What kind of difficulties could people face by having children in space?
Experts say that in the known space environment, micro-gravity, radiation and magnetic fields could have a great impact on human reproduction. Among these factors, micro-gravity could be the largest challenge.
At the cellular level, micro-gravity might affect cell division or polarity. The cells of living organisms contain many organic molecules. These molecules and cells are evolved to function under the earth gravitational force. But scientists are still not clear how micro-gravity could affect the physical force governing the molecular interactions and developments of the cells, says Kee.
The United States, Russia and Europe have conducted many space experiments to examine if micro-gravity is harmful to astronauts, especially the effects on the muscle and bones. However, microgravity effect on human reproductive capacity has been rarely studied.
Previous research in this area mainly focused on monitoring the reproductive hormone levels of astronauts. Due to the ethical and physical constraints, it has been very difficult to directly obtain and study their germ cells.
"If we aim to directly study human reproductive biology in space, we need to build an in-vitro platform to study the germ cells. So we chose to use human embryonic stem cells to differentiate into germ cells," says Kee.
In 2009, he and his colleagues used human embryonic stem cells to create human primordial germ cells and sperm-like cells for the first time. They published their research in the academic journal Nature.
Currently, the team has successfully obtained egg-like cells from human embryonic stem cells and will be publishing this novel finding soon.
Human embryonic stem cells can be induced into primordial germ cells and further differentiate into sperm-like or egg-like cells. But differentiating embryonic stem cells into sperm-like or egg-like cells is very difficult because they require more developmental steps and more cellular factors, says Kee.
Although other scientists have conducted similar experiments, none has made human germ cells differentiate into such a mature state as Kee's team has.
"We have compared the in-vitro cultured cells with in-vivo cells, and found they have many similar characteristics. But we can only call the in-vitro ones sperm-like cells or egg-like cells, because we still can't prove they are exactly the same until we conduct functional experiments," Kee says.
So far, all such experiments have been conducted on the ground, so scientists do not know whether micro-gravity will affect the differentiation of human embryonic stem cells and the formation of germ cells.
"In the experiments on the ground, it usually takes six days to culture and obtain primordial germ cells, and about two weeks to form sperm-like or egg-like cells," says Kee.
"The experiment on Tianzhou-1 will last 30 days. To what extent the human embryonic stem cell can differentiate in space is still unknown. Will the process be delayed? If so, by how much?" asks Kee, adding they expect to see at least the first stage of the primordial germ cells appear.
Scientists on the ground will remotely control the research equipment to change the cell-culture medium to induce the human embryonic stem cells to differentiate into germ cells. Images of the cells under the microscope will be transmitted to earth.
http://english.sina.com/news/2017-04-21/detail-ifyepnea4429727.shtml
2017-04-21 02:55:50 GMT
017-04-21 10:55:50(Beijing Time) Xinhua English
By Xinhua writer Yu Fei
BEIJING, April 21 (Xinhua) -- As astronauts continue to break records for time spent in space and manned Mars exploration is under discussion, scientists in China have begun a groundbreaking study to determine if humans can reproduce in space.
Scientists will for the first time conduct an experiment to induce the differentiation of human embryonic stem cells into germ cells on China's first cargo spacecraft, Tianzhou-1.
The experiment aims to study the effects of the space environment on human reproduction, beginning with the study of microgravity on human stem cells and germ cells, says Kehkooi Kee, lead researcher on the project.
Kee, a Malaysia Chinese professor at China's prestigious Tsinghua University, says the unprecedented experiment will study the basic development and maturation of germ cells in the micro-gravity environment, and the developmental potential of human embryonic stem cells.
The research is expected to provide a theoretical basis and technical support to solve the possible problems of human reproduction caused by the space environment, Kee said.
"It's an important experiment because it is the first step towards directly understanding human reproduction during space exploration," he says.
What kind of difficulties could people face by having children in space?
Experts say that in the known space environment, micro-gravity, radiation and magnetic fields could have a great impact on human reproduction. Among these factors, micro-gravity could be the largest challenge.
At the cellular level, micro-gravity might affect cell division or polarity. The cells of living organisms contain many organic molecules. These molecules and cells are evolved to function under the earth gravitational force. But scientists are still not clear how micro-gravity could affect the physical force governing the molecular interactions and developments of the cells, says Kee.
The United States, Russia and Europe have conducted many space experiments to examine if micro-gravity is harmful to astronauts, especially the effects on the muscle and bones. However, microgravity effect on human reproductive capacity has been rarely studied.
Previous research in this area mainly focused on monitoring the reproductive hormone levels of astronauts. Due to the ethical and physical constraints, it has been very difficult to directly obtain and study their germ cells.
"If we aim to directly study human reproductive biology in space, we need to build an in-vitro platform to study the germ cells. So we chose to use human embryonic stem cells to differentiate into germ cells," says Kee.
In 2009, he and his colleagues used human embryonic stem cells to create human primordial germ cells and sperm-like cells for the first time. They published their research in the academic journal Nature.
Currently, the team has successfully obtained egg-like cells from human embryonic stem cells and will be publishing this novel finding soon.
Human embryonic stem cells can be induced into primordial germ cells and further differentiate into sperm-like or egg-like cells. But differentiating embryonic stem cells into sperm-like or egg-like cells is very difficult because they require more developmental steps and more cellular factors, says Kee.
Although other scientists have conducted similar experiments, none has made human germ cells differentiate into such a mature state as Kee's team has.
"We have compared the in-vitro cultured cells with in-vivo cells, and found they have many similar characteristics. But we can only call the in-vitro ones sperm-like cells or egg-like cells, because we still can't prove they are exactly the same until we conduct functional experiments," Kee says.
So far, all such experiments have been conducted on the ground, so scientists do not know whether micro-gravity will affect the differentiation of human embryonic stem cells and the formation of germ cells.
"In the experiments on the ground, it usually takes six days to culture and obtain primordial germ cells, and about two weeks to form sperm-like or egg-like cells," says Kee.
"The experiment on Tianzhou-1 will last 30 days. To what extent the human embryonic stem cell can differentiate in space is still unknown. Will the process be delayed? If so, by how much?" asks Kee, adding they expect to see at least the first stage of the primordial germ cells appear.
Scientists on the ground will remotely control the research equipment to change the cell-culture medium to induce the human embryonic stem cells to differentiate into germ cells. Images of the cells under the microscope will be transmitted to earth.
http://english.sina.com/news/2017-04-21/detail-ifyepnea4429727.shtml
ahojunk
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China Focus: First cargo spacecraft boosts China's space dream
(Xinhua) 08:14, April 21, 2017
China's first cargo spacecraft Tianzhou-1 blasts off from Wenchang Space Launch Center in south China's Hainan province, April 20, 2017. (Xinhua/Ju Zhenhua)
WENCHANG, Hainan, April 20 -- China has taken another step toward its goal of putting a space station into orbit around 2022, by sending its first cargo spacecraft Tianzhou-1 into space on Thursday evening.
Atop a Long March-7 Y2 carrier rocket, Tianzhou-1 rose into the air from the Wenchang Space Launch Center in south China's Hainan Province at 7:41 p.m.
China declared the launch a success after it entered designated orbit minutes later.
The cargo ship will dock with the orbiting Tiangong-2 space lab where two Chinese astronauts spent 30 days in the country's longest-ever manned space mission, provide fuel and other supplies to the latter, as well as conduct space experiments before falling back to Earth.
If the Tianzhou-1 mission is successful, China will become the third country besides Russia and the United States to master the technique of refueling in space.
China aims to build a permanent space station that is expected to orbit for at least 10 years, and the debut of the cargo ship is important as it acts as a courier to help maintain the space station.
Without a cargo transportation system, the station would run out of power and basic necessities, causing it to return to Earth before the designated time.
"The Tianzhou-1 mission includes the breakthrough of in-orbit refueling and other key technology needed to build a space station, laying a foundation for future space station operations," said Bai Mingsheng, chief designer of the cargo ship.
THREE DOCKINGS
Measuring 10.6 meters long and boasting a maximum diameter of 3.35 meters, the Tianzhou-1 cargo ship has a maximum takeoff weight of 13.5 tonnes, and could carry over 6 tonnes of supplies.
Tianzhou-1 is larger and heavier than Tiangong-2, which is 10.4 meters in length and has a maximum diameter of 3.35 meters, weighing 8.6 tonnes.
Bai said that supplies loaded on the cargo spacecraft are nearly as heavy as the ship's own weight, exceeding the loading capacity of Russian cargo ships in active service.
Tianzhou-1 will dock with Tiangong-2 three times, said Bai. After the first docking, aerospace engineers will test the controlling ability of the cargo spacecraft over the two spacecraft.
The second docking will be conducted from a different direction, which aims to test the ability of the cargo ship to dock with the space station from different directions.
In the last docking, Tianzhou-1 will use fast-docking technology. Previously, it took China about two days to dock, while fast docking will take about six hours, according to Bai.
Refueling is conducted during docking, a process that is much more complicated than refueling vehicles on land.
The refueling procedure will take 29 steps and last for several days each time.
This means the Tianzhou-1 will stay in space for about six months. It will fall into a designated sea area after fulfilling its tasks.
SUPPORTING SPACE STATION
Space cargo ships play a crucial role in the maintenance of a space station.
Cargo ships can send all kinds of supplies to the space station which can be an experiment field for developing technology in space.
Huang Weifen, a deputy chief designer of the Astronaut Center of China, said that supplies carried by Tianzhou-1 include goods that will meet the basic living and working needs of three astronauts for 30 days in space, including drinking water, oxygen bottles and nitrogen bottles.
Also onboard include facilities for microorganism tests, and sensors are installed to obtain data such as mechanics and temperature for the future design of the space suit outside a spacecraft.
"We hope to gather relevant data through this mission and accumulate experience for sending material for the future space station," she said.
VISION OF SPACE POWER
Although China has achieved many giant steps in space exploration, the country's space odyssey is far from over as it eyes building its own space station and far beyond that: landing on Mars.
In 1992, the central authority approved a three-step manned space program.
The first step, to send an astronaut into space and return safely, was fulfilled by Yang Liwei in Shenzhou-5 mission in 2013.
The second step was developing advanced space flight techniques and technologies including extra-vehicular activity and orbital docking.
The final step will be able to operate a permanent manned space station.
Chinese scientists said they plan to launch a core module of the country's first space station around 2018, followed by two experiment modules.
The station in the primary stage will be composed of three modules: core module, experiment module I and experiment module II. Each module will weigh more than 20 tonnes and together the three will be structured in the shape of T. The core module will be in the middle with an experiment module on each side.
During its operation, the space station could be linked to one additional cargo ship and two manned spacecraft at one time, and the maximum weight of the whole assembly could reach up to 90 tonnes.
Based on such design, scientists will keep updating capsules in accordance with scientific research and extend their abilities.
With the International Space Station set to retire in 2024, the Chinese space station will offer a promising alternative, and China will be the only country with a permanent space station.
So far, China has successfully launched 11 Shenzhou series spacecraft, including six manned spacecraft that lifted 11 astronauts into space.
The country strives to realize the third step of its lunar program in 2017: sending Chang'e-5 lunar probe onto the moon which will return with samples.
.
(Xinhua) 08:14, April 21, 2017
China's first cargo spacecraft Tianzhou-1 blasts off from Wenchang Space Launch Center in south China's Hainan province, April 20, 2017. (Xinhua/Ju Zhenhua)
WENCHANG, Hainan, April 20 -- China has taken another step toward its goal of putting a space station into orbit around 2022, by sending its first cargo spacecraft Tianzhou-1 into space on Thursday evening.
Atop a Long March-7 Y2 carrier rocket, Tianzhou-1 rose into the air from the Wenchang Space Launch Center in south China's Hainan Province at 7:41 p.m.
China declared the launch a success after it entered designated orbit minutes later.
The cargo ship will dock with the orbiting Tiangong-2 space lab where two Chinese astronauts spent 30 days in the country's longest-ever manned space mission, provide fuel and other supplies to the latter, as well as conduct space experiments before falling back to Earth.
If the Tianzhou-1 mission is successful, China will become the third country besides Russia and the United States to master the technique of refueling in space.
China aims to build a permanent space station that is expected to orbit for at least 10 years, and the debut of the cargo ship is important as it acts as a courier to help maintain the space station.
Without a cargo transportation system, the station would run out of power and basic necessities, causing it to return to Earth before the designated time.
"The Tianzhou-1 mission includes the breakthrough of in-orbit refueling and other key technology needed to build a space station, laying a foundation for future space station operations," said Bai Mingsheng, chief designer of the cargo ship.
THREE DOCKINGS
Measuring 10.6 meters long and boasting a maximum diameter of 3.35 meters, the Tianzhou-1 cargo ship has a maximum takeoff weight of 13.5 tonnes, and could carry over 6 tonnes of supplies.
Tianzhou-1 is larger and heavier than Tiangong-2, which is 10.4 meters in length and has a maximum diameter of 3.35 meters, weighing 8.6 tonnes.
Bai said that supplies loaded on the cargo spacecraft are nearly as heavy as the ship's own weight, exceeding the loading capacity of Russian cargo ships in active service.
Tianzhou-1 will dock with Tiangong-2 three times, said Bai. After the first docking, aerospace engineers will test the controlling ability of the cargo spacecraft over the two spacecraft.
The second docking will be conducted from a different direction, which aims to test the ability of the cargo ship to dock with the space station from different directions.
In the last docking, Tianzhou-1 will use fast-docking technology. Previously, it took China about two days to dock, while fast docking will take about six hours, according to Bai.
Refueling is conducted during docking, a process that is much more complicated than refueling vehicles on land.
The refueling procedure will take 29 steps and last for several days each time.
This means the Tianzhou-1 will stay in space for about six months. It will fall into a designated sea area after fulfilling its tasks.
SUPPORTING SPACE STATION
Space cargo ships play a crucial role in the maintenance of a space station.
Cargo ships can send all kinds of supplies to the space station which can be an experiment field for developing technology in space.
Huang Weifen, a deputy chief designer of the Astronaut Center of China, said that supplies carried by Tianzhou-1 include goods that will meet the basic living and working needs of three astronauts for 30 days in space, including drinking water, oxygen bottles and nitrogen bottles.
Also onboard include facilities for microorganism tests, and sensors are installed to obtain data such as mechanics and temperature for the future design of the space suit outside a spacecraft.
"We hope to gather relevant data through this mission and accumulate experience for sending material for the future space station," she said.
VISION OF SPACE POWER
Although China has achieved many giant steps in space exploration, the country's space odyssey is far from over as it eyes building its own space station and far beyond that: landing on Mars.
In 1992, the central authority approved a three-step manned space program.
The first step, to send an astronaut into space and return safely, was fulfilled by Yang Liwei in Shenzhou-5 mission in 2013.
The second step was developing advanced space flight techniques and technologies including extra-vehicular activity and orbital docking.
The final step will be able to operate a permanent manned space station.
Chinese scientists said they plan to launch a core module of the country's first space station around 2018, followed by two experiment modules.
The station in the primary stage will be composed of three modules: core module, experiment module I and experiment module II. Each module will weigh more than 20 tonnes and together the three will be structured in the shape of T. The core module will be in the middle with an experiment module on each side.
During its operation, the space station could be linked to one additional cargo ship and two manned spacecraft at one time, and the maximum weight of the whole assembly could reach up to 90 tonnes.
Based on such design, scientists will keep updating capsules in accordance with scientific research and extend their abilities.
With the International Space Station set to retire in 2024, the Chinese space station will offer a promising alternative, and China will be the only country with a permanent space station.
So far, China has successfully launched 11 Shenzhou series spacecraft, including six manned spacecraft that lifted 11 astronauts into space.
The country strives to realize the third step of its lunar program in 2017: sending Chang'e-5 lunar probe onto the moon which will return with samples.
.
Godman
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Same here. Hainan is very popular among Taiwan visitors to Mainland (as if living on a tiny island was not enough
Just make sure a visit to the island coincides with a planned launch, of which China has plenty.
But, a major launch like this would be much more memorable.
The best ones are yet to come. There will be several launches when the assembly of the future Space station begins
Kiss_of_the_Dragon
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Are we going to have a man mission soon after this docking?
pangunahin
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Congratulations for the successful launch!I'm loving those pictures by the way.
MUST WATCH !!
One of the best Montage video about Tianzhou-1 Video on youtube !
TaiShang
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China experiments human stem cells in cargo spacecraft
(Xinhua) 10:34, April 22, 2017
China is conducting stem cell experiments to investigate the possibility of human reproduction in space aboard cargo spacecraft Tianzhou 1, according to the Tianzhou's engineer.
The experiments include the studies of the proliferation and differentiation of stem cells, the differentiation of germ cells, and the impact on bone cells of a microgravity environment, said Li Xuzhi, deputy chief designer of the space application system of China's manned space program.
Scientists on the ground will remotely control the research equipment, and receive the images of the cells under the microscope.
Experiments in microgravity will provide theoretical ground and technical support for the study of the human reproduction in space, said Li.
Other experiments on Tianzhou 1 include the research on fluid evaporation and condensation in a microgravity environment, in-orbit tests of a high-precision electrostatic accelerometer and others, added Li.
Tianzhou 1 started its five-month journey in space Thursday evening.
The ship will dock with China's orbiting Tiangong II space lab, and provide fuel and other supplies before falling back to Earth.
(Xinhua) 10:34, April 22, 2017
China is conducting stem cell experiments to investigate the possibility of human reproduction in space aboard cargo spacecraft Tianzhou 1, according to the Tianzhou's engineer.
The experiments include the studies of the proliferation and differentiation of stem cells, the differentiation of germ cells, and the impact on bone cells of a microgravity environment, said Li Xuzhi, deputy chief designer of the space application system of China's manned space program.
Scientists on the ground will remotely control the research equipment, and receive the images of the cells under the microscope.
Experiments in microgravity will provide theoretical ground and technical support for the study of the human reproduction in space, said Li.
Other experiments on Tianzhou 1 include the research on fluid evaporation and condensation in a microgravity environment, in-orbit tests of a high-precision electrostatic accelerometer and others, added Li.
Tianzhou 1 started its five-month journey in space Thursday evening.
The ship will dock with China's orbiting Tiangong II space lab, and provide fuel and other supplies before falling back to Earth.
beijingwalker
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Simply amazing!!!
shadows888
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needs first baby born in space! then the real space race will begin, the colonization of space.
ahojunk
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China's cargo spacecraft docks with space lab
(Xinhua) 12:47, April 22, 2017
The Tianzhou-1 cargo spacecraft successfully completed automated docking with the orbiting Tiangong-2 space lab at 12:23 p.m. Saturday, according to Beijing Aerospace Control Center.
It is the first docking between the spacecraft and space lab.
Tianzhou-1, China's first cargo spacecraft, which was launched Thursday evening from Wenchang Space Launch Center in south China's Hainan Province, began to approach Tiangong-2 automatically at 10:02 a.m. Saturday and made contact with the space lab at 12:16 p.m.
The Tianzhou-1 cargo ship and Tiangong-2 space lab will have another two dockings.
The second docking will be conducted from a different direction, which aims to test the ability of the cargo ship to dock with a future space station from different directions.
In the third docking, Tianzhou-1 will use fast-docking technology. It normally takes about two days to dock, while fast docking will take only six hours.
Refueling will also be conducted, a process with 29 steps that takes several days.
Tiangong-2, which went into space on Sept. 15, 2016, is China's first space lab "in the strict sense" and a key step in building a permanent space station.
Cargo ships play a crucial role maintaining a space station and carrying supplies and fuel into orbit.
(Xinhua) 12:47, April 22, 2017
The Tianzhou-1 cargo spacecraft successfully completed automated docking with the orbiting Tiangong-2 space lab at 12:23 p.m. Saturday, according to Beijing Aerospace Control Center.
It is the first docking between the spacecraft and space lab.
Tianzhou-1, China's first cargo spacecraft, which was launched Thursday evening from Wenchang Space Launch Center in south China's Hainan Province, began to approach Tiangong-2 automatically at 10:02 a.m. Saturday and made contact with the space lab at 12:16 p.m.
The Tianzhou-1 cargo ship and Tiangong-2 space lab will have another two dockings.
The second docking will be conducted from a different direction, which aims to test the ability of the cargo ship to dock with a future space station from different directions.
In the third docking, Tianzhou-1 will use fast-docking technology. It normally takes about two days to dock, while fast docking will take only six hours.
Refueling will also be conducted, a process with 29 steps that takes several days.
Tiangong-2, which went into space on Sept. 15, 2016, is China's first space lab "in the strict sense" and a key step in building a permanent space station.
Cargo ships play a crucial role maintaining a space station and carrying supplies and fuel into orbit.
beijingwalker
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China's first cargo spacecraft Tianzhou-1 docks with Tiangong-2 space lab
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