China conducted first test of inflatable module in space

Tengrinews.kz - China successfully tested a small inflatable module in orbit during the recent Shijian-19 mission, the Chinese Academy of Space Technology (CAST) reported, according to SpaceNews.
The Shijian-19 satellite, designed to return to Earth, was launched from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center on September 27 and safely landed on October 10 at the Dongfeng site in the Gobi Desert.
CAST, which developed both the satellite and the module, announced more than a month after the event that the "inflatable flexible sealed module" had successfully passed its orbital test.
The module is described as a multifunctional pressurized structure made from flexible composite materials. CAST declared the mission a complete success. It clarified that the module is launched in a compact, folded state, and inflates once in orbit.

"CAST described the technology as a promising approach for constructing large-scale space-sealed modules and represents an important new direction in sealed module technology," the publication writes.

CAST applied its expertise in system design, structures, mechanisms, thermal control, and space environmental effects to achieve the results. It noted that the module had passed ground tests, including checks for airtightness, debris impact, extreme pressure, vibration, and thermal vacuum conditions.
The publication adds that China had previously expressed interest in developing inflatable modules, but this statement serves as the first official confirmation of the technology.
The Shijian-19 mission was described by the China National Space Administration as the first test of a new generation of high-performance returnable platforms. In addition to the inflatable module, the 3,500-kilogram spacecraft carried payloads for agricultural experiments, microbial sample irradiation, and research in space technology. The Shijian-19 spacecraft was a short-term version of a returnable platform designed for missions lasting about two weeks. A long-term version with solar panels is expected to support more extended experiments.

"The successful test of the inflatable module fills a technological gap in China’s capabilities and potentially opens the door to future applications in deep space exploration and orbital habitats," the report concludes.

Previously, Kazakhstan announced its plans to launch its first rocket into space, with new details emerging from the Ministry of Digital Development, Innovation, and Aerospace Industry.