Sci-Tech

Leak-Detection System for Moon Exploration

Chinese scientists have developed a system to measure the leakage rate within a vacuum which will be used in the third step of the countrys Moon exploration program.

According to Lanzhou Institute of Physics， under the China Academy of Space Technology， this measurement system will help scientists devise better ways to preserve Moon samples， by storing them in a vacuum capsule， increasing the accuracy of their research.

“The third step of the lunar exploration project involves bringing samples from the surface of the Moon back to Earth，” said Li Detian， chief scientist of the research team. “As samples will be packed in a vacuum environment， the precise measuring of the finest leak in a vacuum capsule will have direct impact on the sample research results，”Li said.

According to Cheng Yongjun， another scientist on the team， the system they have developed will ensure a similar vacuum environment for the samples as on the Moon. It will also ensure that the samples remain uncontaminated on their way back to Earth， by protecting them from environmental changes， including extremely high or low temperatures.

China has a three-step Moon exploration project： orbit， landing， and return. The Change-5 lunar probe launch is expected around 2017. It will accomplish the last step of the project.

Chinese Icebreaker Completes 2nd Trip around Antarctic

Chinese icebreaker Xuelong， or Snow Dragon， rounded off its second tour of Antarctica on February 27. The 75-day trip， covering over 18，000 nautical miles， was also the research vessels first counterclockwise voyage around the ice-covered continent.

The Xuelong， carrying Chinas 32nd Antarctic expedition team， made a stopover at the Great Wall Station on King George Island， Chinas first Antarctic station on the continent， and revisited Chiles Port of Punta Arenas after 16 years.

On February 6， the icebreaker arrived at the southernmost point of the tour – also the southernmost point ever reached by a Chinese vessel – at 77.47 degrees south latitude and 166.16 degrees east longitude in the Ross Sea. There the expedition team surveyed the area in search of possible locations for Chinas fifth Antarctic research station.

On February 21， the Xuelong docked at Australias Casey Station， where it delivered the 392 tons of supplies that the Australian side had requested the Chinese vessel help to transport under the Antarctic research cooperation framework between the two countries.

After returning to Chinas Zhongshan Station on February 27， the Xuelong sailed to the ocean area west of Prydz Bay for more research work. It set sail for home on March 10 to conclude its mission.

Chinas Robotic Exoskeleton to Start Production

A China-developed robotic exoskeleton that helps disabled people to walk will be put into production this year.

The Chengdu-based Center for Robotics at the University of Electronic Science and Technology of China has， since 2010， been developing the robotic exoskeleton – a wearable robot that can be clasped around the waist and legs to help walking and mobility.

“This new version is more sensitive thanks to its embedded motion sensors，” Huang Rui from the Center said.

It can assist hemiplegia and limb paralysis sufferers to walk again， according to Cheng Hong， executive director of the Center.“From mechanical and electric design to software research， everything was independently developed at the Center，” Cheng said. “We hope to see our robotic exoskeleton used in medical rehabilitation.”

Zhangjiang Hi-tech Zone Unveils Enterprise Park in Boston

The Zhangjiang Hi-tech Industrial Development Zone （ZHIDZ）， located in eastern Chinas Shanghai Municipality， on February 26 unveiled a new enterprise park in Boston to promote China-U.S. technological innovation.

The Zhangjiang-Boston Enterprise Park is a new model for China-U.S. technological cooperation under the collaboration between the administrative committee of the ZHIDZ and the U.S.-China Partnership Committee， a U.S. organization working to develop investment partnerships with China. The enterprise park， to be operated and managed as a China-U.S. joint venture， will gather innovative resources from universities， enterprises and institutes in both countries， and integrate R&D incubation， services， trade， and finance.

Six innovation centers， spanning life sciences and biomedical technology， healthcare， artificial intelligence， semiconductor and integrated circuitry， new energy and environmental projects， and information technology， will be built in the park.

The park will also serve as an international platform for entrepreneurship that not only streamlines Chinese company investment in the U.S.， but also facilitates the entry of U.S. products and technologies into the Chinese market.

Addressing the opening ceremony of the hi-tech park at the Massachusetts State House in Boston， Wang Zhigang， Chinas Vice Minister of Science and Technology， expressed his belief that the park will bring“tremendous benefits” to the two cities and the two countries， advancing technology and innovation in the world.

Reiterating Wangs view， Charlie Baker， governor of Massachusetts， said that the enterprisepark will not only create more jobs and boost the economy of his state， but also provide good opportunities for companies in Massachusetts and China to seek new cooperation in R&D， new products， and innovation.