From Earth to Space, Companies Create Added Value through Technological Innovation

For consumers, food and drink such as hot rice and bottled water were readily available online or at local stores, but for astronauts, they were rather luxuries.

But last year’s crew of China’s Shenzhou manned spaceflight was able to enjoy such food and drink thanks to Chinese consumer electronics company Joyoung. Joyoung has innovated its technology to create an improbable space kitchen for astronauts. A drinking water dispenser, air heater, and soy milk maker were all accessible in the kitchen via a smart app.

There has been more consumer technology customized for spacecraft. The vacuum cleaner enabled the haircut by creating a negative pressure that sucked the cut hair, so it didn’t lift up or get into nooks and crannies.

China’s private sector is growing in importance, emerging from the long shadow of state-owned enterprises that have dominated business and industry for decades. Private companies are now using the latest technology to even contribute to major national projects. In addition, they contribute to the country’s technological progress.

The tone setting at the Central Economic Work Conference held in mid-December emphasized the importance of an unwavering commitment to both strengthening and developing the public sector and encouraging, supporting and guiding private sector development.

In fact, from small private enterprises in provinces such as Zhejiang and cities such as Shenzhen, Guangdong, to Internet companies that lead global technological progress, China’s private sector is driving economic growth and innovative development at home and abroad. It is home to a variety of pioneers who have helped promote

According to the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, in recent years they have contributed about 50% of the country’s tax revenue, 60% of GDP, 70% of innovation and 80% of urban employment.

Tan Hongbo, who was a member of Shenzhou’s manned spacecraft crew, said in a news briefing that during his three-month trip, he was able to eat hot food with just 30 minutes of effort.

“If you have time, you can use the customized device to eat homemade yogurt. You can also use the app on your mobile phone to control the intelligent devices in the space kitchen.” He said.

In the past, most aerospace foods were wrapped in aluminum foil and could not be heated directly in the microwave. Conductive devices often caused uneven heating. The astronaut had to spend four hours heating up vegetables in the space kitchen.

To solve this problem, Joyoung has developed a device that sends out hot air to heat vegetables 360 degrees. With this gadget, astronauts can eat piping hot fish-flavoured shredded pork or Gong Bao Chicken, a spicy Chinese dish.

Besides Joyoung, a group of private companies, such as Xiaomi Corp and Huawei Technologies, are contributing their technology to the development of the space station.

Chinese virtual reality maker NOLO VR has helped develop experimental equipment that allows ground-based lab technicians to vividly see and experience what astronauts are doing in space.

Wang Peng, an associate professor at the Hill House Institute at Renmin University of China in Beijing, said, “Given the increasing acceptance of many private and small businesses, if businesses remain healthy, China technology will continue to play a major role.” New concepts and new businesses for his role as leader of the model. ”