The Shenzhou-18 astronaut crew successfully completed their second extravehicular activity, ensuring the long-term, safe, and stable operation of the Chinese space station; the deep-sea heavy-duty mining vehicle "Pioneer II" reached a new depth record of over 4000 meters during sea trials, bolstering stronger deep-sea exploration capabilities; China's newly built next-generation polar research vessel "Ji Di" officially joined the fleet; the first large multifunctional mother ship for offshore wind power operation was delivered, significantly aiding the development of offshore wind power and other maritime economies. Recently, these major national projects have reported frequent successes, and the nation's mega equipment, that reaches the sky, dives deep into the sea, and ventures to the poles, encapsulates the wisdom and sweat of the strugglers, demonstrating China's robust technological strength in "smart" manufacturing.
Reaching higher: unstoppable space exploration
Chang'e lunar missions, Tianwen planetary explorations, Shenzhou dreams, Beidou's global reach-through the relentless efforts and perseverance of generations of space professionals, China's space endeavors have evolved from humble beginnings to global prominence, achieving remarkable successes notably in manned spaceflight and lunar exploration, carving out a path of independent innovation.
Recently, the Chang'e-6 mission achieved the world's first sample return from the farside of the moon, astounding the global community. The Shenzhou-18 astronaut crew, after about 6.5 hours of meticulous coordination, supported by the space station's robotic arms and ground researchers, successfully installed space debris shields on the space station's exterior pipelines and critical equipment during their second spacewalk, further enhancing the station's long-term operational safety and stability.
China's space station, more than 400 kilometers above Earth, doubles as a "national space laboratory". Equipped with internationally leading space science research and application facilities, it supports a wide array of studies and applications in space life sciences and biotechnology, space material science, microgravity fundamental physics, and microgravity fluid physics.
In this national space laboratory, various space science and application research projects are being methodically executed, and new quality productive forces are quietly burgeoning. For instance, a research team from Chinese Northwest University recently utilized the microgravity environment provided by the space station to discover critical physical properties of superalloy materials, achieving dual control over microstructure and macroscopic form of refractory alloys. The team has conducted hundreds of experiments on six types of alloy materials using the space station. Moving forward, the team plans to undertake further space-based research on other materials, particularly new functional crystals and special materials needed for national projects.
Advancing deeper: vigorous development of deep-sea resource
The ocean floor is rich in polymetallic nodules, cobalt-rich crusts, and polymetallic sulphides, containing vital materials like copper, cobalt, nickel, and manganese, which are of immense application value. The terrain and physical properties of mineable areas on the seabed, as well as the physical characteristics of deep-sea minerals, are highly complex. Additionally, deep-sea heavy-load operation equipment must also withstand oceanic waves, which has long been a technological challenge in international deep-sea mining.
Recently, the deep-sea heavy-duty mining vehicle prototype "Pioneer II", developed independently by Shanghai Jiao Tong University, ventured 4102.8 meters below the sea surface and successfully retrieved deep-sea polymetallic crusts and nodules, setting multiple records in China's deep-sea mining field.
Mining treasures from the seabed requires cutting-edge technology. The "Pioneer II" measuring 6 meters in length, 3 meters in width, and 2.5 meters in height, and weighing 14 tons, is a "big player" suitable for deep-sea heavy-load operations, with potent capabilities for efficient mineral extraction and overcoming obstacles. The development team has pioneered several new technologies in China around the "Pioneer II", including high-mobility traversal of complex seabed terrains, deep-sea multi-mineral composite drilling and mining, intelligent fine control of deep-water heavy-load operations, non-metallic cable deep-sea heavy-load deployment and recovery, and deep-sea environmental disturbance monitoring and assessment. Notably, thanks to advanced mobility technology for complex seabed terrains, whether it's steep, rugged seamounts with inclines of over 30 degrees or seabed "mudflats" made of highly viscous, soft sediments, the "Pioneer II" can navigate smoothly, climb, and turn in place. Its four tracks can adjust direction and status in real-time, adapting to the needs of complex seabed terrains.
Academicians Lin Zhongqin and Li Jiabiao have highly praised the successful sea trial of "Pioneer II", indicating that China will have stronger technical support and equipment assurance in deep-sea science research, resource development, and environmental protection in the future.