The Shenzhou-18 crew aboard China's orbiting Tiangong space station is preparing for their return mission while wrapping up the remaining experiments.
The three astronauts, Ye Guangfu, Li Cong and Li Guangsu, were sent into space for a six-month mission in April this year. They are expected to handover with the Shenzhou-19 members at the space station in late October.
Over the past week, the astronauts continued to carry out experiments in space material science, microgravity fluid physics and combustion science. They replaced the plug-in burner of combustion cabinet gas experiment and samples of fluid physics experiment cabinet as planned.
In addition, the crew members completed experimental tasks related to the study of astronaut psychological and behavioral ability.
In terms of emergency decision-making ability research, they used computer and test software to complete basic cognitive ability test, risk cognition test, decision style test and comprehensive decision-making tasks. The ground staff used the test results to comprehensively evaluate the astronauts' in-orbit emergency decision-making ability and explore the influence of factors such as in-orbit time, emotional state and workload on the test results of emergency decision-making ability. In terms of in-orbit emotion recognition and evaluation research, the ground staff evaluated the emotional state of the astronauts by questionnaires, color preference tests and emotional picture tests, and explored the impact of medium- and long-term flight on the emotional state of astronauts.
The Shenzhou-18 crew also conducted rendezvous and docking training, which is one of the professional technical training for astronauts in orbit.
The astronauts used the metacognitive training system to complete image recognition and operation testing under different initial conditions, consolidating the accuracy and reliability of their operation skills.
In preparations for the return, the crew completed in-orbit data cleaning and transmission to the group, material inventory and sorting, equipment status checking and return items gathering.
As for regular medical examinations, the astronauts had basic physical check, ambulatory electrocardiographic blood pressure monitoring, 12-lead Electrocardiogram test, non-invasive cardiac function examination and ultrasound examination.
While keeping physical exercises, the astronauts used weightlessness physiological protective equipment including acupoint stimulation clothing and bone loss countermeasures instrument to reduce the impact of the long-term weightlessness environment on their bodies.
China's Shenzhou-18 crew prepares to return to Earth
