The China Space Conference 2021 opened in Nanjing,the capital of Jiangsu province on April 24,Space Day of China.

Themed as the“new start,new journey and new vision”,the four-day conference consisted of 30 events such as forums,science popularization and exhibitions,trying to create an international,professional,market-oriented exchange and cooperation platform that integrates forums,industrial events,frontier displays,event roadshows,along with cultural and creative experiences,comprehensively demonstrating space technology,while exploring the future vision of space,and promoting indepth space cooperation in the world.

At the opening ceremony,Chinese researchers announced the most challenging subjects for space science and technology in 2021.During the conference,academicians from China and abroad discussed their space strategic visions and overall plans,the development of frontier and key technology,and high-level opening up and cooperation,as well as important issues such as the explorations from the Earth to the moon,to the solar system boundary,proposing the creation of the cislunar space ecosystem pursue the vision of a community with a shared future for mankind.(YU Weishu/Aerospace China)

Most Challenging Subjects for Space Science and Technology in 2021

1.Periodic reversal of the solar magnetic field and solar global magnetic field detection

In essence,the solar activity cycle is caused by the periodic reversal of the solar magnetic field,which further restricts the development of solar physics.The lack of observation data is the key issue,which needs to be resolved by the combination of solar physics and modern space technology.

2.Feedback effect and baryon missing in galactic ecological environment

Supernova eruptions or black hole jets have feedback effects on the environment during the process of galaxy evolution.Due to the lack of observational means,the physical processes are still unknown.Observing the hot gas produced by these effects is of great significance to understand the evolution of galaxies and the promotion of the development of cosmology.

3.Realize long-term extraterrestrial survival by using in-situ space resources

In-situ space resource utilization technology is a key technology for humans to go out from the Earth into deep space and realize a sustainable development through exploration,acquisition and utilization of natural or waste resources from extraterrestrial bodies.The technological breakthrough will give rise to new fields such as extraterrestrial astro-mining,space manufacturing and space migration.

4.Space quasi absolute zero ultra-low temperature thermal management technology

Space quasi absolute zero ultra-low temperature thermal management technology is a key technology that is urgently needed for ultra-high sensitivity detection and perception of cosmic weak signals.The breakthrough will be of great significance for detecting faint signals in the universe,understanding the origin of the universe and searching for extraterrestrial life.

5.Reusable liquid rocket engine design technology

Reusable space transport system is an important development direction of space transport technology.Reusable liquid rocket engine design technology is the key supporting technology.The technology will lay a solid foundation for the development of China’s reusable space transportation system and greatly improve the country’s ability to access and control space.

6.Space vehicle design technology based on nuclear fusion propulsion system

The space vehicle based on a nuclear fusion propulsion system for a deep space flight exploration vehicle which obtains large thrust through nuclear fusion reaction,and has the characteristics of a high specific impulse,large thrust,long life and so on.This technology will greatly improve the performance of space vehicles,and is an important technical guarantee for humans to reach the far solar system beyond the moon.

7.Aerodynamic layout design methodology and hypersonic vehicle technology in large airspace and in the transvelocity domain

The aerodynamic layout design methodology and hypersonic vehicle technology in large airspace and in the transvelocity domain need to adapt to the various requirements for the large range of flight airspace regimes and velocity domains,which are key,but difficult points in aerodynamic design,and are also major common basic issues faced by the hypersonic vehicle in the transvelocity domain.A breakthrough in this technology will greatly expand the range of hypersonic vehicles.

8.Inner-outflow coupling acoustic vibration environment assessment and prediction technology of air breathing high-speed vehicle

The research on the technology of the inner-outflow coupling acoustic vibration environment for the air breathing highspeed vehicle will establish an accurate evaluation and prediction method,which is an important criteria for the flexible maneuvering flight of air breathing high-speed vehicle with a wide speed range and for traversing multi-airspace.This technological breakthrough is of great significance for the new aspirated space transport system and its engineering application.

9.GEO satellite-ground all-time safety communications technology

GEO satellite-ground all-time safety communications technology is an important technology to realize for space-ground secret communications.It is also an important means to guarantee the information security in the future.It has an important application value in fields such as finance which is of a high security level and for long term security.

10.Space high-voltage high-power generation and power management technology

Space high-voltage high-power generation and power management technology is the key technology to break the bottleneck for large-scale human exploration,utilization of space resources and support the development of future super-large spacecraft.It will promote the development of major space missions such as manned lunar landing,lunar bases construction and development,deep space exploration and space solar power stations.