The first batch of magnesium alloy and other materials from the Chinese space station have been successfully retrieved after completing the extravehicular exposure experiment

Some of the experiments conducted on the Chinese space station are conducted inside the cabin, while others need to be conducted outside the cabin. The Chinese space station material extravehicular exposure experimental device has been in orbit for over a year since its launch on March 8, 2023. On March 14th, the device and the first batch of over 400 material samples installed in the device successfully completed the extravehicular exposure experiment and returned to the space station.

The first batch of materials for the extravehicular exposure experiment includes two categories: non-metallic and metallic, totaling 407. Among them, non-metallic materials such as memory polymer materials, lunar soil reinforcement materials, solid lubrication and gel composite lubrication materials. Metal materials such as magnesium alloys, porous copper materials, etc. Related research can promote the space application of advanced materials such as flexible solar wings and other large space deployable mechanisms, space lubrication materials, lunar base construction materials, and neutron shielding materials for precision electronic equipment.