Liangjiang provides cutting-edge support to Shenzhou XVIII crew members

The transfer chairs that will be used by the Shenzhou XVIII astronauts upon their return are designed by Chongqing N.D. Industrial Design Co in Liangjiang New Area. [Photo provided to English.liangjiang.gov.cn]

On Oct 30, the Shenzhou XIX manned spacecraft launched from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center. Following its entry into orbit, the spacecraft will autonomously dock with the space station complex. The crew of Shenzhou XIX will replace the crew of Shenzhou XVIII, who are scheduled to return to the Dongfeng Landing Site on Nov 4 after completing the in-orbit handover.

The transfer chairs that will be used by the Shenzhou XVIII astronauts upon their return were designed by Chongqing N.D. Industrial Design Co in Liangjiang New Area, Chongqing.

N.D. Industrial Design has been responsible for developing escort chairs for astronauts since the Shenzhou X mission in 2013. These transfer chairs are crucial for ensuring astronauts' re-adaptation to earth's gravity during the entire transfer process from the landing site to Beijing.

After staying at the space station for an extended period of time, it is crucial for their bodies to readjust to the earth's gravity, said head of the N.D. Industrial Design.

With the increasing frequency of space missions, the team has been continuously iterating and upgrading the design of the chairs to meet the specific needs of each mission, focusing on safety and ergonomics.

The chairs provided for the Shenzhou XVIII astronauts are designed to mitigate the effects of prolonged weightlessness on the bones, muscles, and blood circulation of crew members. They offer comfortable support for both sitting and laying positions and facilitate easy transitions between different states, from sitting to being carried.

N.D. Industrial Design, a leading smart innovation enterprise in Liangjiang, was founded by the renowned N.D. Industrial Design Innovation Consortium headquartered in Shenzhen.

Over the years, the team has taken on numerous key projects in Chongqing, particularly in Liangjiang. Since 2013, N.D. Industrial Design has collaborated with the China Astronaut Research and Training Center on various projects, including the design and development of ecological and environmental modules for the Space Institute of Southern China (Shenzhen), human factors engineering for related equipment, and ground training devices.

Liangjiang hosts over 90 percent of Chongqing's aerospace information projects, including China Satellite Network Group Co, Chongqing Kingsley Aeronautical Materials Technology Co, and China Express.

The area has also made efforts to establish a creative design industrial zone to drive innovation and growth in the aerospace information industry.