What is the observation plan of "Space Laboratory"?

The space shuttle made the first manned earth orbit, which was extended to April 1981. Therefore, the first flight of the "Space Laboratory" was also pushed back to 1983. According to the plan, the first flight of the "Space Laboratory" was jointly conducted by NASA and the European Space Agency. The first flight was mounted on the space shuttle as a 7-day flight. The flying height of the "Space Laboratory" has been set at 25 kilometers with an inclination of 57 degrees. The purpose of the flight is not only to test the flight performance of the "space laboratory" and its subsystems, but also to carry out scientific research and observation plans. In addition to NASA and the European Space Agency, Japan and India participated in the first flight test project of the "Space Laboratory". However, the total payload of the experiment should not exceed 2.9 tons, because the volume of the laboratory and the power supply it can provide are limited. According to the agreement between NASA and the European Space Agency, the average distribution weight of the two units is 1.4 tons each, and neither side can exceed 1.45 tons. There are 37 first flight experiments agreed by the two institutions, 24 by the European Space Agency and 13 by NASA, including one experiment by Japan and one by India. In order to participate in the research of the "Space Laboratory", more than 2, scientific and technological personnel have signed up all over the world, and 222 researchers have been selected by NASA and the European Space Agency to participate in the ground observation and analysis of 77 experiments on the first flight. When flying in orbit, the four payload experts in the "Space Laboratory" will keep in touch with these researchers on the ground. These 222 people come from 16 countries, including 131 people from 12 European countries. They belong to France, Britain, Italy, Belgium, the Netherlands, Spain, Denmark, Norway, Switzerland, Sweden and Austria. There are 8 people in the United States and 11 people in Canada, Japan and India.

The 1.4-ton payload allocated to Europe by the "Space Laboratory" joint flight for the first time accounts for about 1 kilograms of main instruments and equipment, including 15 kilograms of photogrammetry equipment, 15 kilograms of earth observation equipment, 14 kilograms of space sledge and 46 kilograms of space material processing equipment. The weight of space material processing equipment alone accounts for 1/3 of the total weight, and the experimental items of material processing account for about 5% of the total experimental items.

The experimental projects that "Space Laboratory" will carry out in the early 196s cover a wide range, ranging from basic science, applied technology to industrial production, which can be summarized into the following four aspects.

(1) celestial observation. The "space laboratory" can be used as a test and measurement platform for space research. It has a wider application range than high-altitude detection rockets, earth satellites and space probes. Because it is loaded with a large number of equipment, the equipment can be recycled and reused, and the cost is low. In addition, researchers can follow the flight and directly observe and experiment. Researchers in the "Space Laboratory" can continue to study atmospheric physics, plasma physics, solar physics, astrophysics and astronomy, which will provide new information for the study of the relationship between the universe and the earth. The "space laboratory" can also observe transient events that are difficult to observe on the ground. Such as comets and nova, and various high-energy radiation. This is closely related to the study of nature, the origin and evolution of celestial bodies and other topics. American astronauts, for example, have observed the initial moment of solar eruption in Sky Lab, thus explaining many unresolved problems in this process. Another example is Sky Lab's research on stellar spectra and comets. Skylab's solar telescope has taken 18, photos, most of which are in the invisible light range on the ground, showing the scene of the sun's surface and corona. For these, the "space laboratory" can continue to study them in depth. In the study of plasma physics, France and Norway are responsible for measuring low-energy electrons and charged particles. In the solar physics experiment project, Belgium is responsible for measuring the solar constant. France and Belgium have jointly built a grating mass spectrometer to study the composition of the upper atmosphere. The former West Germany is going to use laser to detect the atmosphere, observe the rays from infrared to ultraviolet and detect the atmosphere of other planets. France proposes to study the temperature and wind in the mesosphere (also known as the mesosphere, the atmosphere from the stratosphere top to 8 ~ 9 km) and the thermosphere (also known as the thermosphere, the atmosphere from the mesosphere top to the cangue km), and Lyman in the ionosphere H and D regions. Radiation, and the study of the solar spectrum between the wavelength of 4 microns and so on. Other research projects include magnetic field, electric field, meteors, interstellar dust, and the formation of solar wind and its influence on geomagnetic field, earth's atmosphere and ionosphere. The biggest feature of all the above studies is that they are not disturbed by the atmosphere.

(2) Earth observation. The "space laboratory" can be used as a working platform for earth observation. It is like a manned automatic observation station built in space, and it is far more flexible and superior than land satellites, ocean satellites and meteorological satellites in earth observation. On the one hand, the observation instruments in the laboratory are operated by researchers themselves, and the earth observation is more detailed; On the other hand, the laboratory can be loaded with heavy and powerful remote sensing instruments such as microwave devices, laser and radar devices. The instrument and the obtained data return to the ground with the researchers without relay transmission, which is helpful for careful analysis and research. In case of instrument failure, researchers can repair or replace related components at any time. This is beyond the reach of unmanned automated satellites. The earth observation mission of "Space Laboratory" mainly focuses on the fields of earth remote sensing, meteorology, communication and navigation technology. It can collect all kinds of useful information on transportation, urban planning, pollution control, agriculture, fishery, navigation, weather forecast and resource exploration, and observe and remotely sense the earth from space, which has become an effective means to explore the earth's resources and study meteorology. Therefore, the "space laboratory" can provide an important basis for weather forecasting, weather analysis, research on climate causes and meteorological evolution. It can be used to test new meteorological observation methods and new sensors. In the past, human beings have discovered new mineral deposits and oil fields through various spaceships and satellites. Using false color photography technology to estimate the output of grains and other kinds of grain, the vegetation on the surface has been studied, which makes the map drawing more accurate, and many inaccessible mountains have been mapped ... The use of "space laboratory" will continue to expand the application of these technical fields.

(3) Medical, biological and biochemical experiments. As a laboratory for scientific research and development, the "Space Laboratory" will also conduct experimental research on space medicine, biology and biochemistry. The metabolism of organisms in weightlessness has changed greatly, so it is necessary to continue the life science research on people and other organisms in space, which will increase human understanding of the life process. Germany, France, Britain and Sweden will cooperate to study the effect of linear acceleration on vestibular reaction of human ears under weightlessness and the response of astronauts' eyes to shaking. In addition, we will study the weight identification of human beings under weightlessness by measuring the venous and intrathoracic venous pressures of astronauts, the enlargement of lymph nodes under weightlessness, and the influence of radiation on human body. Germany, France and the United States will work together to study the effects of radiation on living things. Britain will also use miniature magnetic recorder to record electrocardiogram, electroencephalogram and oculogram under weightlessness, check cardiovascular adaptability and study neuropathology.

(4) Study the production technology of space industry. "Space Laboratory" can be used as a laboratory for developing and researching space processing and production technology. Because industrial production in space can take advantage of the unique physical and operating conditions here, mainly weightlessness and high vacuum environment. In this unique environment, it has opened up a new world for developing new processing technology and manufacturing new materials. This is the most interesting technical research project in industry. Because it may have great application and economic value. In such an ideal vacuum environment, it plays a special role in industrial welding, brazing, fusion welding, material processing, the growth of high-purity large crystals, the separation of certain substances, the manufacture of various glass without container pollution for laser, new alloys with light weight and high temperature resistance, and new inventions of other synthetic materials, chemicals and pharmaceutical preparations. These will be of immeasurable significance to the fields of electronics, mechanical manufacturing, optics, biomedicine, material manufacturing and processing.

The United States has done experiments on metal melting and solidification in the "space laboratory", made ideal metal balls and new alloys, and also made experiments on semiconductor physics such as crystal growth. The results of these experiments have extensive practical value. To this end, many industrial companies in Europe are very enthusiastic about the practical application of "space laboratories" for these experiments. For example, a machinery factory in Germany hopes to use the weightless environment of "space laboratory" to create a method of casting high-quality mechanical parts and manufacture wear-resistant high-precision modules. Various related industrial companies have put forward specific experimental projects in various fields. If we improve the method of manufacturing semiconductor materials, improve the purity of materials and expand the application scope, we should not only produce crystals as large as possible in space, but also obtain crystals with perfect character and homogeneity, and manufacture ultra-pure materials with better electrical, optical and mechanical properties ... In short, the application scope of space laboratories in industrial production is wide and endless. It will show a brand-new prospect for human industrial production.