On July 15, the Tianzhou-9 cargo craft successfully docked at the rear docking port of Tianhe, the core module of China's space station. Professors Deng Yulin and Zhang Ying from the Beijing Institute of Technology (BIT) spearheaded the mission. Their experimental device focusing on "On-Orbit Rapid Microbial Detection and Novel Antimicrobial Protection Technology" was transported with the spacecraft and is set to conduct systematic microbiological research on the space station.

This research aims to establish a robust microbial safety barrier for astronauts on long-term station missions. The validation of these findings also holds the potential to guide future manned space missions in microbial safety and control, driving advancements in related fields.

In this Tianzhou-9 task, the BIT team has independently developed innovative payloads for on-orbit microbial detection and protection in space, as well as a new microfluidic chip experimental cartridge. The cartridge contains two types of ultra-high sensitivity microbial detection chips: one for experiments on novel microbial prevention and control technologies and the other for on-orbit evaluation of microbial interactions with spacecraft materials.

The innovative payloads feature integration, low power consumption, high reliability, and high biological safety, making them suitable for astronaut operations in space. This experimental mission will provide new technologies and methods for microbial prevention and control on China's space station.

The project will conduct research in four areas: monitoring the microbial ecology of space stations, establishing a new platform for ultra-high sensitivity and rapid on-orbit microbial detection methods, conducting practical tests on AIE biomimetic nano-antibacterial technology, and evaluating microbial contamination monitoring.

The journey ahead the vast galaxy and endless exploration is long. Generation after generation of BIT people strives tirelessly, climbing the peaks of technology with the noble ideal of building China into a strong aerospace power, leaving solid footprints in the vast universe.