H3 Shenzhou-19 astronauts advance experiments aboard Tiangong space station

H3 Shenzhou-19 astronauts advance experiments aboard Tiangong space station
by Simon Mansfield
Sydney, Australia (SPX) Jan 15, 2025
China's Shenzhou-19 crew on the Tiangong space station has undertaken several important scientific experiments since the start of 2025, including a test involving a pipeline inspection robot, as reported by the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA).

The astronauts conducted the experiment by placing the robot within a simulated pipeline, activating it, and pressing the task button to initiate its inspection sequence. Following its inspection, the robot autonomously returned to the pipeline entrance, where it was retrieved.

According to the CMSA, the test validated several key technologies. These included the robot's ability to adapt to complex pipeline configurations and its advanced motion control for navigating challenging environments. The findings contribute significantly to developing automated pipeline inspection capabilities for use on the space station.

In the realm of space medicine, the crew utilized electroencephalography (EEG) equipment and software to perform a series of tests. Data gathered from these experiments aims to aid ground-based researchers in exploring how gravity influences visual motion processing and assessing the potential effects of brainwave music interventions on inhibitory control functions during extended space missions.

The astronauts also employed various devices to measure plantar pressure and joint kinematics while collecting motion images of running and resistance exercises performed under varying load conditions. These efforts are uncovering relationships between motion dynamics and plantar pressure.

As part of their research into human adaptation to space, crew members wore devices to monitor their movements and heart rates and completed weekly surveys on sleep quality. This data is being used to investigate how the space environment affects circadian rhythms.

In collaboration with ground researchers, the crew conducted a system-wide pressure emergency drill simulating an internal pressure loss scenario. The exercise encompassed all phases of emergency response and helped refine astronauts' emergency skills while enhancing coordination between space-based and ground-based teams, the CMSA explained.

The Shenzhou-19 mission was launched on Oct. 30, 2024, delivering three astronauts - Cai Xuzhe, Song Lingdong, and Wang Haoze - to the Tiangong space station for a six-month mission.