The Shijian-19, China’s first reusable and returnable satellite, has successfully returned to Earth, delivering a significant haul of scientific payloads that promise to advance space breeding and various scientific experiments. On Thursday, the China National Space Administration (CNSA) held a payload handover ceremony in Beijing, officially transferring the scientific payloads to both domestic and international users, including partners from Thailand and Pakistan.
Significant Technological Breakthroughs
Bian Zhigang, deputy head of the CNSA, highlighted that the Shijian-19 mission leverages a new generation of retrievable space experiment platforms. The satellite conducted space breeding experiments involving approximately 1,000 species of germplasm resources, providing crucial support for the innovation of germplasm resources in China. Additionally, the mission offered a valuable opportunity for in-orbit validation of domestically produced components and raw materials.
According to Meng Lingjie, director of the Earth Observation System and Data Center under the CNSA, the Shijian-19 mission achieved a breakthrough with its recovery module. The satellite platform is designed to be reused more than ten times, significantly reducing manufacturing costs and improving operational efficiency.
“The satellite serves as a space testing platform that enables convenient transportation of payloads between Earth and space, offering high-quality experimental services,” Meng said. “It has wide-ranging applications in space scientific experiments such as space breeding, pharmaceutical research, and material manufacturing.”
Enhanced Payload Recovery and Microgravity Environment
The Shijian-19 satellite carried 500 kilograms of experimental payloads back to Earth, greatly enhancing China’s capability for payload recovery. It also provides a high-quality microgravity environment for experiments, which is essential for various scientific research projects.
During its time in orbit, the satellite facilitated seven new technology experiments, including microgravity hydrogen production, low-frequency magnetic communications, inflatable sealed cabins, and wireless power transmission. It also carried nine space science payloads to conduct research in fields such as carbon nanomaterials and devices, solid catalyst materials, and oral and dental science materials.
International Cooperation in Space Breeding
Liu Luxiang, executive director general of the Institute of Crop Sciences under the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences and chief scientist of China’s space breeding project, noted that the Shijian-19 mission carried seeds of about 1,800 plant materials and more than 1,000 species of microorganisms. This encompassed nearly all major types of agricultural products.
“The mission not only provides solid support to China’s space breeding but also creates a collaboration platform for international counterparts,” Liu said. The satellite carried rice seeds from Thailand, seeds of wheat, rice, corn, and beans from Pakistan, as well as crop seeds from other countries.
Facing the global challenge of food security, Liu emphasized the necessity of enhancing food production, developing new genetic resources that promote nutrition and health, and cultivating new grain varieties that are more resilient to climate change with improved stress tolerance.
Over the past 30 years, China has developed over 300 crop varieties through its space breeding technologies. These varieties cover an annual cultivation area of about 2 million hectares, yielding remarkable social and economic benefits.
A New Era of Reusable Space Technology
Launched from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China on September 27, the Shijian-19 satellite’s successful return on October 11 marks a significant milestone in China’s space technology. The satellite’s reusability and returnable capabilities signify a leap forward in reducing costs and increasing the efficiency of space missions.
Reference(s):
China's first reusable, returnable satellite delivers payloads
cgtn.com
