At 20:50 on June 5, 2022, Beijing time, after the SHENZHOU 14 manned spacecraft and the space station combination successfully achieved autonomous and rapid rendezvous and docking, the astronaut crew entered the orbital module from the return module; the Tianhe core module was opened. Behind the door, astronauts Chen Dong, Liu Yang, and Cai Xuzhe all entered successfully in turn.
The successful launch of the SHENZHOU 14 manned spacecraft is inseparable from the Long March 2F carrier rocket, and for the rocket, the engine is one of the most important components.
The Sixth Institute of China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (hereinafter referred to as the Sixth Institute of Aerospace Science and Technology) is responsible for various main thrust and attitude and orbit control engines on the Long March 2F carrier rocket and the SHENZHOU 14 spacecraft in this manned spaceflight project. , thermal control subsystem and life support system pump valve and other research tasks, and supporting the return cabin, propulsion cabin two sets of propulsion subsystems, and 9 kinds of 22 pump valve products.
The 7103 factory of the Sixth Academy of Aerospace Science and Technology produces the core first-stage engine, second-stage engine, and booster engine used in the rocket, and uses 3D printing technology to manufacture related parts, realizing a more reliable engine and a double increase in efficiency and speed.
Yang Huanqing, director of the Additive Manufacturing Innovation Center of the 7103 Factory, introduced that the reinforcement rib of the engine thrust chamber partition is one of the representative applications of 3D printing. The reinforcing rib is the key component of the inner flow channel of the engine diaphragm interlayer, which is mainly used to ensure the combustion stability of the engine. This product was previously produced by an investment precision casting process. There are 29 technological processes, many supporting equipment, and strong dependence, and the pass rate is less than 20%.
By replacing the investment casting process with 3D printing technology, the manufacturing cycle of the reinforcing rib is shortened by 75%, the pass rate is increased to 98%, the cost is reduced by 30%, and many performance indicators of the product are close to or even exceed the historically high value of traditional castings.
Moreover, the resource library also learned that the application of 3D printing technology also solves a variety of environmental protection problems such as waste liquid and dust odor, and can directly prepare products with complex shapes and stable performance. For example, 3D printing technology is used for the butt flange frame of the engine for the first time. "One-time printing" avoids the deformation caused by removing the original solid bar or forging with a large margin and also ensures the quality stability of the engine and the overall docking.
Using 3D printing technology has the advantages of high efficiency and low cost. With the rapid development of my country's aerospace industry, this field presents an increasingly strong application demand for 3D printing technology, and the promotion of technology and industrialization is becoming more and more obvious.
The Sixth Academy of Aerospace Science and Technology stated that with the success of this launch mission, the Wentian and Mengtian experimental modules will be launched in succession. This move means that the size and capacity of the Chinese space station will be further expanded, and will be able to accommodate more astronauts and test equipment.