Recent Progress in Space Science and Applications of China’s Space Station in 2020-2022

China scheduled to complete the assembly of the T-shaped Tiangong Space Station in 2022,and will enter a new stage of utilization.There are more than 20 experiment racks inside the modules,and more than 50 external onboard payloads mounting spaces,which will support large-scale science and technology experiments during the operation.The development of internal experiment racks and external research accommodations approved during the construction has been completed,of which 4 racks in Tianhe core module,including High Microgravity Level research Rack(HMLR)and Container-less Materials Processing Rack(CMPR),have finished on-orbit tests;while other racks in Wentian and Mengtian experiment modules are under comprehensive ground tests.The Chinese Space Survey Telescope(CSST)has advanced much in the last two years with 24 pre-launch research projects funded and 4 joint science center built in preparation for CSST’s future scientific observations and operations.The systematic research planning for China’s Space Station(CSS)during 2022-2032 is updated with the researches classified into four important areas:space life sciences and human research,microgravity physical sciences,space astronomy and Earth science,and new space technologies and applications.According to the planning,more than 1000 experiments are expected to perform in CSS during the operating period.Overall,the CSS utilization missions are proceeding as planned,which will contribute to the major scientific or application output and have a positive impact on the quality of life on Earth.

Two suggested configurations for the Chinese space telescope

China will establish a 2-meter space-based astronomical telescope. Its main science goals are performing a sky survey for research about dark matter and dark energy, and high resolution observations. Some experts suggest that this space telescope should be installed inside the Chinese space station. In accord with this suggestion we put forward our first configuration, i.e., to adopt a coude system for this telescope. This coude system comes from the Chinese 2.16 m telescope＇s coude system, which includes a relay mirror so that excellent image quality can be obtained. In our second configuration, we suggest that the whole space telescope fly freely as an independent satellite outside the space station. When it needs servicing, for example, changing in- struments, refilling refrigerant or propellant, etc., this space telescope can fly near or even dock with the core space station. Although some space stations have had accom- panying satellites, the one we propose is a space telescope that will be much larger than other accompanying satellites in terms of weight and volume. On the basis of the second configuration, we also put forward the following idea： the space station can be composed of several large independent modules if necessary.

A Hygienic Survey of the Environment of Underground Space and Buildings

Full utilization of underground space and buildings could have positive economic and social effects. However, the microclimate and air quality must be well controlled so that they are not harmful to human health. This survey indicated that relative humidity is a common hygienic problem in underground space and buildings. Attention should be paid to humidity control and to the strengthening of routine ventilation at the construction stage. Carbon dioxide can be used as a hygiene index of air pollution; the sanitary standard for it in the air of underground buildings is 10%. The hygienic survey shows that the concentration of carbon dioxide is usually below this standard in the environments of underground space and buildings. (c)1989 Academic Press,Inc.

A new insight into the nature of seasonal variations in coordinate time series of GPS sites located near active faults

This study provides new insights into the nature of seasonal variations in coordinate time series of GPS sites located near active faults and methods of their modeling. Monthly averaged coordinate time series were analyzed for several pairs of collocated GPS sites situated near the active fault intersection area, in close proximity to the central part of the northern boundary of the Amurian plate and the vicinity of the San Andreas Fault zone. It is concluded that the observed seasonal variations are best described by a breather function which is one of the solutions of the well-known sine-Gordon equation. The obtained results suggest that, in this case, the source of seasonal variations may be caused by the appearance of solitary strain waves in the fault intersection system, which may be qualitatively treated as standing waves of compression-extension of the geological medium. Based on statistical testing, the limits of applicability of the suggested model have been established.