(Correspondents: Zhang Yunzhong, Wu Xinguo and Du Shangfeng) At 7:49 am, October 17, Zhang Youxia, chief commander of China’s manned space program, declared the success of the launch of Shenzhou-11 crewed spaceship. After docking with Tiangong-2 module, astronauts on the spaceship will conduct medical and space experiences and engage in public outreach activities to popularize science. It, another milestone in China’s manned space program, marks an important step of China towards building an enduring manned space station.
The propellants and raw materials produced by Liming Institute played a key role in the launch of the rocket. Meanwhile, more than 300 kinds of special rubber sealing products produced by Northwest Rubber & Plastics Institute can also be found in the rocket system, environmental control, the life protection system (the orbital module, the re-entry module and Tiangong-2) and the spacesuit. The organic glass produced by Jinxi Research Institute of Chemical Industry is used for the panel and support of the compass of the re-entry module for its outstanding optical and mechanical properties.
According to some technical head of Liming Institute, the propellants and raw materials they produced were used for the rocket launch, the escape tower, spaceship orbit change and attitude adjustment and control. In particular, one of the liquid propellant was used in the booster, primary and secondary flaming propellants to power the launch and flight of the rocket; the solid propellant raw materials it supplied were used in the escape tower to ensure the success of the launch and allow astronauts to escape in case of emergency; and another liquid propellant it supplied has outstanding altitude performance and is safe and reliable, and thus important for the orbit change and attitude adjustment and control of the spaceship, the launch of the rocket and the docking of the spaceship with Tiangong-2.
According to incomplete data, by the end of 2015, researchers of the Northwest Institute had produced more than 220 kinds of rubber seals for Tiangong-2 and more than 90 kinds of products for Shenzhou-11, amounting to over 4,000 items in total including ground test pieces, spare pieces and products for shipment. Besides a few simple O-shaped sealing rings, most of the items are complicated special-shaped pieces and adhesives. They all meet the technical demands of clients and were delivered in time to ensure the success of the ground test and the launch of the spaceship, providing strong support for China's manned spaceship program.
Jinxi Institute is the only aviation organic glass R&D company in China. For years, it has developed and produced many types of aviation organic glass and polycarbonate boards for the transparency of aviation, aerospace and ships. This is the sixth time that its aviation organic glass is used on a manned spacecraft. In the future such products will also be used in the transparent windows of the environmental control and life protection system in Tiangong space labs. Jinxi Institute will continue to contribute to China's aerospace industry with better products and services.
Liming Institute, Northwest Institute and Jinxi Institute have once again demonstrated their R&D strength and ability to contribute to the modernization of national defense and the aviation and aerospace industry in China.
