Wu Weiren, a member of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) and chief designer of China’s lunar exploration project, said that China has set up its first deep space exploration laboratory in order to be able to better carry out deep space exploration as well as cutting-edge technology research in the field of spaceflight. The laboratory, located in Anhui province, is a new type of science and technology research and development institution that realizes the integration of science, technology and engineering.
According to the CCTV news report, Wu Weiren said in an interview that the laboratory is to support the national major project of deep space exploration and carry out frontier, basic and strategic research in the field of deep space, and at the same time to undertake research and demonstration as well as to form some power to be able to carry out in-depth demonstration and propose implementation plans for some subsequent projects such as deep space exploration.
Wu Weiren said, this is an open laboratory, open platform, but also for international, and he hopes to attract international talents to work in this laboratory. Deep space exploration is a peaceful cause, a common cause of mankind, so it is not subject to any restrictions in this regard.
Wu Weiren also said that after the completion of the Tianwen 1 mission, China will also plan a number of Tianwen series of planetary exploration missions to explore the vastness of space. There will also be the Tianwen II, Tianwen III, Tianwen IV, etc. The main tasks of the follow-up, one is to explore the asteroids in deep space, the asteroid samples can be collected back. After the asteroid sampling, but also to prepare for the return of the Mars sample, hopefully to implement the Mars sample return around 2030.
He continued to say that after the realization of Mars sampling, China will be prepared to explore Jupiter and other planets in the solar system, hoping to complete the exploration of 100 astronomical units in 2049 (100th anniversary of PRC), to reach 15 billion kilometers from Earth, or even to the edge of the solar system.
In addition, as to how far mankind is from the practical application of controlled nuclear fusion, Duan Xuru, a member of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, the chief expert in the field of nuclear fusion reactor technology of the China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC), and the vice chairman of the Scientific and Technical Advisory Committee of the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) program, said that around 2050, mankind can use nuclear fusion energy.
Nuclear fusion energy, that is, the use of thermonuclear fusion to produce huge energy, is considered the future of clean energy.
Duan Xuru pointed out that the research and development of controlled nuclear fusion has gradually stepped into the stage of reactor engineering experiments from the principle exploration and large-scale experiments. If we rely on the foundation of the existing nuclear science and technology industrial system, gather the research units with professional experience and technology in the field of nuclear engineering, gradually build a fusion energy technology development system and industrial system, and focus on fusion engineering and technology research, after another 30 years or so, human beings can use nuclear fusion energy.