That kind of animal flies to the sky on our country’s biological rocket
The puppy went to space on a Chinese biological rocket.
On July 15, 1966, at the 603 Base of the Shanghai Space Administration in Guangde, Anhui, a string dog named "Little Leopard" flew up to an altitude of 80 kilometers on a rocket. The scientific and technological personnel on the ground are eagerly awaiting the safe return of "Little Leopard"... In December 1960, Qian Xuesen personally visited the 603 test station to guide the rocket launch work. At the Guangde Rocket Launch Site, scientific researchers have successively conducted flight tests on fruit flies, mice and other living organisms, all of which have been successful.
With Qian Xuesen’s personal decision, researchers at the 603 Experiment Station began another canine spaceflight experiment. They recruited more than a hundred puppies from circuses across the country. Because space inside the rocket is precious, they required the puppies to weigh no more than 6 pounds. With just this one condition, more than 60 puppies were screened out.
The researchers then measured the dogs’ height, blood pressure, bone density, nose secretion volume, etc., and in the end only a few string dogs were left. After testing against dizziness and stress, two magnetic puppies stood out. The researchers named them "Little Leopard" and "Shanshan". They were then subjected to special training such as rotation, overweight, vibration, noise, high temperature and air pressure changes.
On July 15, 1966, the little leopard, which had passed all trainings, was fixed in the biological cabin in the rocket arrow by scientific researchers. Its body is connected to measuring instruments that measure heart rate, blood pressure, respiration and body temperature, and there is a feces collector installed at its tail. Just when it was fixed, the little leopard suddenly became manic, crying and fussing with tears in his eyes, which made everyone present confused. The little leopard's restlessness would most likely break the blood pressure measuring instrument connected to the carotid artery, endangering his life.
After the little leopard calmed down, the flight test resumed normally. After a roar, the rocket took off into the sky. During the more than 20 minutes of flight, Xiao Bao endured 12.3G of excess weight. The testing instruments showed that various indicators of its vital signs had changed, but they were all within the normal fluctuation range.
The role of biorockets
1. Biofuel cell: Biofuel cell is a device that converts biomass or organic matter into energy. It uses microorganisms, such as bacteria or yeast, to convert organic matter into electrical energy through redox reactions. Although biofuel cells are not directly used to propel rockets, they have potential in renewable energy and waste treatment and can be applied to some equipment in the aerospace field.
2. Biomaterials and bionic design: In rocket design, scientists and engineers draw on the structure and function of living organisms and conduct many bionic design studies. These studies could draw inspiration from living organisms to improve rocket design and performance, such as reducing weight, improving durability and enhancing maneuverability.