China's inaugural Space Environment Simulation and Research Infrastructure (SESRI) facility successfully completed a national-level acceptance review and commenced operations in Harbin, Heilongjiang province. Constructed through collaborative efforts between the Harbin Institute of Technology and the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation, SESRI stands as China's premier large-scale scientific facility within the aerospace domain, as reported.
SESRI will concentrate on tackling fundamental scientific and technological challenges within a vast research infrastructure tailored for comprehensive studies on space environments, spacecraft, life forms, and plasma interactions. Dubbed as the 'ground space station,' this facility on Earth possesses the capability to replicate nine key space environmental elements: vacuums, extreme temperatures, charged particles, electromagnetic radiation, space dust, plasma, weak magnetic fields, neutral gases, and microgravity.
Spanning an area equivalent to approximately 50 soccer fields, the facility can be customized to accommodate specific environmental parameters according to scientific and engineering requirements. This flexibility allows for numerous repetitions without the limitations of time and space, facilitating the creation of safer and more convenient experimental conditions and research methodologies. "It means that many experiments that previously required space travel can now be conducted on the ground", Li Liyi, deputy commander in chief of the project and head of the Institute of Space Environment and Material Science at Harbin Institute of Technology said.
"Building such a basic scientific research platform that resembles the real cosmic space environment is akin to bringing a space station to Earth. The facility is to ensure the safe operation of our country's spacecraft in orbit, support long-term human habitation, and enhance human capabilities in dealing with special and extreme space environments. It is now able to operate stably. Based on this research platform, we will be able to do more work in related research areas and provide research environments and conditions for scientists nationwide and worldwide in the future", added.
From the inception of initial discussions to its official opening, the development of the project spanned 18 years. Commencing trial operation last year, it has already catered to numerous domestic and international users. This support has been instrumental in advancing the development of various aerospace electronic components within China and facilitating the execution of several significant national aerospace missions, resulting in numerous landmark achievements.
"The platform holds great importance to China in facilitating major breakthroughs in scientific and technological innovation, industrial transformation and upgrading, and the cultivation of highly skilled talent", said Han Jiecai, president of the Harbin Institute of Technology and an academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. "We will continuously optimize the technical indicators of the facility, improve its scientific level, and promote scientific research and exploration based on the facility".
"We will strive to reveal more profound scientific laws, accelerate the formation of more independent intellectual property rights, and cultivate more world-class scientific and technological talent, making new and greater contributions to the significant leap of China from a major space power to a strong space power", further added.