In humanity's great journey toward the depths of the universe, space stations are undoubtedly a crucial bridgehead. And the various types of scientific experiment racks within them serve as powerful assistants for us to explore the mysteries of the cosmos. ### 01. Scientific Experiment Racks on the Space Station: Ushering in a New Era of Space Scientific Research The scientific experiment racks equipped in the Wentian Lab Module of China's Space Station boast diverse and distinctive functions. The Life Ecology Experiment Rack is like a window for exploring life in space. With individual organisms as its core research objects, it serves as a carefully designed "space hotel" for plants and animals. It houses experimental samples such as plant seeds, seedlings, mature plants, and small animals; Arabidopsis thaliana, nematodes, fruit flies, and zebrafish will all embark on a unique journey in space here. Through these experiments, scientists aim to uncover the subtle impacts of microgravity on the growth, development, and metabolism of individual organisms—findings that hold great significance for deepening our understanding of the essence of life phenomena. Moreover, this experiment rack also undertakes the task of exploring the effects and mechanisms of space radiation biology and hypomagnetic biology; its research results will provide a solid scientific basis for assessing and protecting astronauts from radiation damage in orbit. More notably, a small closed ecosystem composed of fish, microorganisms, and algae is being built in the Life Ecology Rack. By conducting research on the closed-loop cycles of substances and energy, it lays a theoretical foundation for the establishment of extraterrestrial base ecosystems in the future. The Biotechnology Experiment Rack is a frontier outpost for biological sciences, focusing primarily on biological samples such as cell tissues and proteins. Resembling a small "space biology laboratory," it enables accurate detection of entire cell tissues, continuous and dynamic culture as well as sampling and storage of intracellular biological samples, and crystallization analysis of proteins. These experiments help explore the laws and mechanisms of cell growth and differentiation in a microgravity environment, providing a theoretical source for fields such as human health and reproductive development. At the same time, they are also of undeniable importance for investigating the influence of gravitational effects on the origin and evolution of life. In addition, research in areas such as high-efficiency protein/polypeptide drugs and nanocrystal bone biotechnology is highly likely to yield breakthrough discoveries, thereby strongly guiding the research and application of tissue engineering and biomedicine. The Scientific Glove Box provides a clean and sealed operating space for space experiments, integrating the needs of multiple disciplines including life sciences, biotechnology, aerospace medicine, and materials science. Its equipped dexterous robotic arm possesses cell-level precision operation capabilities, which is truly remarkable. In the future, a set of microoperation systems will also be installed in it, with an operation accuracy of up to 5 micrometers, enabling extremely delicate operations such as cell puncture. The low-temperature storage device located below the Scientific Glove Box features three typical low-temperature storage temperature zones—minus 80°C, minus 20°C, and 4°C—providing reliable guarantees for the low-temperature storage of different experimental samples and ensuring the stability and effectiveness of the samples in the space environment. The Variable Gravity Science Experiment Rack can be called a magical tool for gravity simulation. It is capable of providing a high-precision simulated gravity environment ranging from 0.01g to 2g for scientific experiments. With the support of advanced wireless energy transmission and carrier communication technologies, it strongly facilitates scientific research on complex fluid physics and granular material movement under different gravity levels, such as microgravity, simulated lunar gravity, and simulated Martian gravity. The centrifuge inside it is the core site for conducting variable gravity experiments; by flexibly adjusting the rotation speed of the turntable, the required simulated gravity of different levels can be obtained. This experiment rack has a relatively large size, with a diameter of 900 millimeters. This not only allows the smooth conduct of medium and large-scale animal and plant experiments but also ensures a smaller gravity gradient and more accurate centrifugal acceleration, providing strong support for the preliminary theoretical research of future space exploration activities such as human lunar and Martian landings. ### 02. On-Orbit Maintenance and Assembly Rack: A Solid Backing for Space Scientific Research During the long-term operation of the space station, just like a large ship sailing on a long voyage, it is inevitably confronted with various "turbulences of malfunctions." At such times, the On-Orbit Maintenance and Assembly Rack acts like a solid lighthouse, safeguarding the continuity and stability of scientific research work. This experiment rack has a spacious maintenance operation space of over 360 liters. Resembling a "space maintenance workshop," it can meet numerous maintenance and repair needs such as payload preparation, assembly and adjustment, cleaning, welding, and assembly. Here, astronauts, like skilled "space craftsmen," can carry out mechanical or routine operations, and also conduct precision operations with the help of the robotic arm inside the operation box—while maximizing the protection of their own safety. More advancedly, the On-Orbit Maintenance and Assembly Rack is equipped with an intelligent guided maintenance system. This system is like an intelligent maintenance assistant: through augmented reality technology, it skillfully overlays maintenance information onto physical objects. Astronauts only need to wear glasses easily to check the physical objects while obtaining clear and accurate maintenance guidance—as if they have a pair of "see-through eyes" and a mentor who is always by their side. This greatly improves maintenance efficiency and accuracy. Unlike other scientific experiment racks that have fixed research themes, the On-Orbit Maintenance and Assembly Rack is not limited to a specific research direction. It is like an all-capable "logistics support staff": when other equipment malfunctions, astronauts can rely on it to replace, repair, or operate the payload devices of other scientific experiment racks and space application systems. For instance, it provides a full range of supporting functions such as structural installation, clean space treatment, robotic arm-assisted operation, as well as vacuum, waste gas discharge, and tool supply—ensuring that maintenance operations can be carried out smoothly in orbit. Furthermore, regarding the challenge of maintaining large extravehicular payloads, the On-Orbit Maintenance and Assembly Rack is also equipped with an ingenious design. It has a retractable platform inside, which, when unfolded, forms a large flat surface of 900 mm by 700 mm—like a "space maintenance workbench." Large extravehicular payloads can be firmly fixed on this flat surface, and with the support of abundant payload interfaces, corresponding maintenance operations can be performed, greatly expanding the maintenance scope of the space station. ### 03. Scientific Glove Box and Low-Temperature Storage Cabinet: A Safe Haven for Experimental Samples In the scientific experiments conducted on the space station, experimental samples are like precious treasures that require proper protection and storage. The Scientific Glove Box and Low-Temperature Storage Cabinet jointly take on this important responsibility, serving as guardians of the experimental samples. The Scientific Glove Box creates a sealed and clean operating space for scientific experiments. Astronauts can perform experimental operations through four gloves made of special materials on the glove box; these gloves are both flexible and safe, like a "second layer of skin" for astronauts during space experiments. The glove box also features a quick replacement function and four viewing windows, greatly facilitating astronauts in carrying out various experimental operations. In addition, the dexterous robotic arm and microoperation system installed inside the glove box further enhance its capabilities, enabling astronauts to complete more delicate and complex experimental operations such as cell nucleus extraction and injection—providing strong support for in-depth scientific research. The Low-Temperature Storage Cabinet is deployed in the experiment rack below the glove box. It is like a precise "master of temperature control," capable of achieving three low-temperature preservation modes: -80°C, -20°C, and 4°C. These modes meet the different low-temperature storage requirements of samples such as biological materials, reagents, and materials. In the harsh space environment characterized by microgravity and strong radiation, these precise low-temperature preservation modes can effectively delay the aging and deterioration of experimental samples, ensuring their effectiveness after the experiments. When astronauts complete their space mission and return to Earth, these well-preserved samples will be delivered to researchers on the ground—like passing on precious "seeds of scientific research." They will further exert their great scientific value and provide indispensable physical evidence for subsequent scientific research. ### 04. Collaborative Cooperation of Space Station Facilities: Jointly Building Glory in Space Exploration Facilities such as the Space Variable Gravity Science Experiment Platform, the On-Orbit Maintenance and Assembly Rack, and the Scientific Glove Box with Low-Temperature Storage Cabinet are not isolated individuals. Instead, they are like a closely collaborating "space scientific research team," jointly forming a powerful scientific experiment support system within the space station. During the process of scientific experiments, the Variable Gravity Science Experiment Rack creates conditions for studying the influence of gravity on various physical and biological phenomena by simulating different gravity environments. Meanwhile, the Life Ecology Experiment Rack, Biotechnology Experiment Rack, and other racks conduct various biological experiments under these specific gravity environments to explore the mysteries of life in space. The Scientific Glove Box provides a platform for precise operations in these experiments, ensuring the accuracy and safety of the experimental operations; the Low-Temperature Storage Cabinet is responsible for properly preserving the experimental samples, guaranteeing the continuity and traceability of the experiments. When equipment malfunctions, the On-Orbit Maintenance and Assembly Rack quickly comes into play, repairing the faulty equipment in a timely manner to ensure the normal operation of the entire scientific experiment system. For example, if a key component of a certain scientific experiment rack is damaged, the On-Orbit Maintenance and Assembly Rack can use its abundant tools and flexible robotic arm to replace or repair the component, enabling the experiment rack to resume work as soon as possible. The collaborative cooperation of these facilities not only provides scientists with a powerful tool for exploring the mysteries of cosmic gravity—deepening our understanding of the universe—but also ensures the continuity and stability of space scientific research work. They are like bright stars, shining with the light of wisdom in the vast space of the space station. They help humanity uncover more mysterious veils of the universe, propel humanity to move toward new milestones on the path of space exploration, and lay a solid foundation for more ambitious future space exploration goals such as the establishment of lunar bases and Martian bases. In the years of space exploration ahead, they will undoubtedly continue to play a more important role and write a more brilliant chapter in the history of human space exploration.