What is a companion satellite and what is the significance of the companion small satellite test?

It is a specialized spacecraft that orbits a space station or other spacecraft. Because its relative motion always accompanies the space station or other spacecraft, it is called a companion satellite. At the same time, according to the different orbiting targets, the companion satellite can be refined into different names, such as the space station companion satellite.

Although it is a "small man" in the satellite family, the role of accompanying satellites is not small, and it has its place in the fields of communications, earth observation, astronomical observation, technical experiments, and scientific experiments. From the current point of view, the main role of the companion satellite is to realize the observation and care of the main spacecraft through it, and assist it in completing its mission. From a worldwide perspective, the research of space station companion satellites has become the focus of attention of various countries.

Shen Qi flies with a small satellite.

Dongfang.com reporter Liu Huabin said on September 24: Gu Yidong, commander-in-chief and chief designer of China's manned space engineering application system, told ** on the 23rd that on the afternoon of the 27th, the second day of the "Shenqi" into orbit, the astronauts will go out of the capsule, and then release the small satellite with a design life of half a year.

According to **, after the astronauts activate the release device, the device on the spacecraft can control the release speed of the small satellite. After the small satellite is separated from the hull, it will gradually move away from the spacecraft according to the designed orbit, and after flying a certain distance, it will gradually approach the spacecraft under the control of ground personnel.

Gu Yidong said that the design life of the small satellite is half a year, "it will accompany the Shen-7 orbital module to fly in orbit, and the ground will control the distance between the two vehicles to do experiments for the next space rendezvous and docking." ”

Shen Xuemin, deputy director of the Shanghai Institute of Technical Physics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, said, "This is the first time that a small satellite has been released in China's manned space program, and the first principle is not to threaten the safety of spacecraft and astronauts out of the capsule." Shen Xuemin revealed that the camera on the small satellite is equipped with two lenses, wide-angle and telephoto, which can capture clear images within 4 meters to 2 kilometers. The reporter learned that the small satellite is at the front end of the spacecraft when it flies, and it can take pictures of the heroic posture of the "Shen-7" during flight from different angles.

Previously, it was reported that the "spacewalk" will be broadcast live after the release of the accompanying small satellite. In this regard, Gu Yidong clarified that the small satellite was released after the out-of-cabin activity, and the filming of the "spacewalk" depended on the camera carried by the spacecraft itself.

Gu Yidong, a researcher at the Institute of Optoelectronics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, said that as a new technology test in the application of the "Shenzhou 7" manned spaceflight, that is, the test accompanying the flight, it has been very successful so far. Gu Yidong also introduced that the test of accompanying satellites is, on the one hand, to open up a new way for future applications. The accompaniment of small satellites, such as space stations or space laboratories, can extend the capabilities of large vehicles.

In addition, the test of the companion satellite can also serve large vehicles, such as space laboratories and space stations, such as observing the appearance and checking possible damage, to serve large vehicles.

Gu Yidong also said that China will carry out the rendezvous and docking of space vehicles in the next stage, which is also a key technology in the manned space project.