Huangyan’s Contributions to the Shenzhou-20 Mission
On April 24, China’s Shenzhou-20 crewed spacecraft soared into space, with critical components from Huangyan-based enterprises playing pivotal roles in this historic mission.
Zhejiang Xianglong Food Container Technology Co., Ltd., located in Beiyang Town, provided advanced meal containers for astronauts. For the mission, the company developed three specialized meal box variants, including an innovative water-injectable design tailored for rehydrating pasta in microgravity. Utilizing multi-layer co-injection technology—a process that integrates diverse materials during molding—the containers achieve exceptional performance at minimal weight, now reduced to just 24 grams per unit. These containers can preserve food for up to a year, as demonstrated by their ability to maintain rice freshness over extended periods. As a national high-tech enterprise, the company is now pioneering research on packaging solutions for lunar missions, further advancing China’s capabilities in deep-space exploration.
Huangyan Jingtian Mould Co., Ltd. contributed precision-engineered molds for astronaut helmet visors, critical components requiring flawless performance under extreme conditions. Since 2010, the company has iteratively refined its manufacturing processes, adopting cutting-edge techniques to slash mold production cycles from 12 months to just three. This achievement not only underscores its technological prowess but also marks a milestone in domestic innovation, replacing imported solutions with fully localized R&D. These breakthroughs epitomize Huangyan’s growing prominence in aerospace manufacturing. By merging technological ingenuity with aerospace-grade precision, local enterprises are propelling China’s space ambitions while driving industrial transformation. Their innovations not only underpin the success of crewed space missions but also elevate China’s global standing in space technology, showcasing how regional expertise can fuel national progress in humanity’s quest for the stars.
