Without this buffer, the return capsule will still experience relatively large vibrations after landing. This will cause certain damage to the structure of the return capsule and the precision components inside.
This will affect the secondary use of the return capsule and increase related maintenance costs.
On the other hand, this kind of vibration will also cause certain harm to the astronauts and passengers in the cabin. Especially some passengers who will take the return capsule in the future.
They generally do not have as good physical fitness as astronauts, and have not received relevant training. Therefore, if the return capsule lands with a large impact or vibration, it is likely to cause some harm to the passengers.
As for the cushioning air cushion, it can play a very good buffering role after the return capsule lands, so that neither the return capsule nor the members in the capsule will be greatly affected.
In addition, there is a parachute group composed of three main parachutes, which must be quickly disconnected after the return capsule lands. This prevents the parachute group from being affected by the wind on the ground, causing the parachute group to drag the return capsule away.
As the height of the return capsule gets lower and lower, the picture on the big screen also switches from the optical tracking observation equipment to the perspective of the drone.
Through the perspective of the drone, everyone can clearly see the entire return capsule landing process at close range.
"Five hundred meters!"
As the announcement came on the radio, everyone who was still communicating in low voices stopped. Then they either stared at the big screen attentively, or picked up the telescope and looked carefully.
"Three hundred meters!"
The landing point of the return capsule was about six or seven hundred meters away from them. Standing on the observation platform on the hillside, everyone could clearly see the three large parachutes and the return capsule hanging below the parachutes.
Even though it was morning and the sky was bright, the red and blue warning lights flashing alternately on the return capsule were still very conspicuous.
The search and recovery convoy on the ground has also rushed over and is currently watching from a distance, waiting for the return capsule to land and immediately get to the scene.
"One hundred meters!"
With this announcement, everyone's relieved hearts rose again. Everyone was no longer content to stare at the big screen, but stared at the big screen while holding binoculars to look at the situation at the scene.
"This is more nervous than me participating in live-fire target shooting with fighter jets." Director Tian couldn't help but smile and said. Even so, his fists clenched at some point.
Rumble…
I saw flames and a large amount of white smoke suddenly spraying out from the rear of the return capsule. This was the successful ignition of the reverse thrust engine.
Bang bang bang bang...
The scene immediately burst into warm applause, and some people couldn't help but cheer.
The smoke ejected by the reverse thrust engine and the dust blown up from the ground quickly enveloped the return capsule and disappeared from everyone's sight.
The convoy that had been circling outside quickly changed direction and rushed over there. An important task for them to rush over in such a hurry was to prevent the main parachute from being disconnected in time, causing the return capsule to be towed away.
Zhou Xiangming and Guo Yulong over there walked over with happy faces. Zhou Xiangming said excitedly to Wu Hao: "The data shows that the 5,000-meter airdrop experiment of the manned spacecraft's return capsule was a complete success.
Landed safely.”
"good!"
Bang bang bang bang...
The applause rang loudly again.
When Wu Hao heard Zhou Xiangming's words, he couldn't help but smile, and he finally breathed a sigh of relief.
Looking at the people who were eager to try, Wu Hao waved his hands and said with a smile: "Let's go and have a look at the scene."
Immediately, surrounded by everyone, Wu Hao and the others boarded the off-road vehicle and flew towards the landing point of the return capsule.
By the time Wu Hao and the others felt that the cleanup work at the site had come to an end.
I saw that the return capsule had landed steadily on the ground, and the orange-red airbag below had also deployed normally. The main parachute had detached and was falling to the ground.
At this moment, the staff are making relevant arrangements.
The search and recovery team also surrounded the return capsule with a cordon, and security personnel were on duty at the four corners.
Everyone who got off the car quickly arrived in front of the warning line. It was also the first time that everyone saw the true face of Lushan in the return cabin.
The entire surface of the return capsule is painted white, and then a few black lines formed by very thin gaps divide the surface of the return capsule into some neat areas.
These white colors are the insulation materials on the return capsule to prevent the return capsule from being burned by the friction of the dense atmosphere when it re-enters the atmosphere.
These insulation materials can be replaced to facilitate secondary use. In principle, this return capsule can be used multiple times, thereby reducing the cost of a single flight of the manned spacecraft.
Of course, if the return capsule is damaged during the return landing process, it cannot be used again for safety reasons.
There is a circular hanging window on each side of the return capsule to facilitate the astronauts and passengers inside to observe the outside situation.
Guo Yulong looked at it carefully for a while, then turned to Wu Hao and the others and said happily: "Now we can announce that our 5,000-meter airdrop experiment of the manned spacecraft's return capsule was a complete success."
"good!"
Bang bang bang bang...
The applause started immediately, and Yang Fan looked at the busy people and couldn't help but ask: "Aren't you going to open a position on the spot?"
Guo Yulong shook his head: "No, the on-site environment is relatively poor, so for the safety of the instruments and equipment inside, we will not open it temporarily, and we will open the position in the laboratory after it is shipped back."
"Well, it seems that none of us can return to the cabin with our eyes full." Wu Hao joked with a smile.
After hearing Wu Hao's words, everyone laughed.
Zhou Xiangming, who was accompanying them, immediately said: "There are two more return capsules like this. If you want to see them, you can see them when you return to the base."
In response, Wu Hao smiled and waved his hand and said: "Forget it, I won't affect everyone's work."
Having said this, Wu Hao looked at the trailer that was already directing the entrance, and then asked with a smile: "So now, is the entire experimental project over?"
Guo Yulong nodded and said: "Yes, today's return capsule airdrop experiment was a complete success. However, this does not mean that the entire airdrop experiment is completed. In fact, we will conduct multiple return capsules at multiple altitudes.
Airdrop experiment.
To verify the reliability of the technology and equipment operated on the return capsule, as well as the flight attitude at different altitudes, etc.
This process usually lasts for a while, but it will not affect the progress of other projects, nor will it affect the launch of our first unmanned experimental spacecraft early next year."
"Okay." Wu Hao smiled and nodded, then waved his hands to everyone and said: "Now that we have feasted our eyes, let's withdraw without affecting their normal work.
Although we don’t say anything here, it still has a lot of psychological burden on them, let’s go!”
