Chinese scientists start studying samples from Shenzhou-7

LANZHOU, Oct. 7 (Xinhua) -- Chinese scientists on Monday unsealed a box of solid lubricant samples that were aboard the Shenzhou-7 spacecraft. They will study the material for the next six months. "Two types of solid lubricant samples, after being exposed to outer space during the Shenzhou-7 mission, had shown obvious changes," said Liu Weimin, head of the Lanzhou Institute of Chemical Physics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences in northwest Gansu Province. "The appearance of the two types of samples has either turned dark or become rougher," he said. Solid lubricants are widely used in spacecraft to reduce friction because they withstand high temperatures. Scientists hoped to improve the stability and lifetime of the materials by studying the test samples taken to outer space. Liu said... [read full story]