Want to enter the core module of the space station? Astronauts must first pass through these four gates →

After the Shenzhou 12 manned spacecraft rendezvous and docks with the core module of the space station, the astronauts will enter the core module from the Shenzhou spacecraft. In this process , astronauts need to pass through a total of four gates.

What are the four gates? Let’s find out~

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After completing the rendezvous and docking, the astronauts must first open the door of the return module of the Shenzhou-12 spacecraft and come to the orbital module. The docking mechanism between the front end of the orbital module and the circular node module at the front end of the core module of the space station forms a channel with a diameter of 80 centimeters and a length of about 1 meter.

The astronauts pass through this passage and finally enter the core module. However, in order to open the front door of the orbital module, the astronauts must first adjust the air pressure on both sides of the door.

Gao Xu, deputy chief designer of the Shenzhou spacecraft of the Fifth Academy of Aerospace Science and Technology Group: We must first repressurize the docking channel so that its pressure reaches a balance with the pressure in the aircraft cabins on both sides. In this way, astronauts can more easily open the front door of our orbital module and then enter this Docking channel.

Enter the core module node module A special \”key\” is required to open the door

After entering the docking channel, the astronauts need to open the front door of the node module. This door cannot be opened casually. To open it requires a special \”Key\”

Deputy Chief Designer of the Shenzhou Spacecraft of the Fifth Academy of Aerospace Science and Technology Group Gao Xu：Our manned spacecraft also carried (carried) a key to the space station. He (the astronaut) took this key to open the door of the space station. It has a relatively large handle, which can reduce Reduce the difficulty of opening the door

At this time, the astronauts are floating in the docking channel because they are not limited by gravity. By turning the \”key\” twice and a half, they can push the door open and enter the node module.

Finally, they also need to open the rear hatch of the node cabin, which is the \”two-way pressure hatch\”, and officially enter the core cabin, opening a three-month

(Editor Guo Tingxuan)