北航志愿者在“月宫一号”实验舱连续驻留200天创造世界纪录

Two men and two women have spent 200 days in a simulated space lab in Beijing, setting a record for the longest stay in a self-contained “cabin.”

两男两女四名志愿者在试验舱生活了200天，打破了世界纪录。

The biomedicine students from Beihang University, the second group of volunteers to stay in Yuegong-1 (Lunar Palace 1), completed the second phase of a 365-day on-ground experiment on Friday.

第二组待在“月宫一号”的志愿者是来自北京航空航天大学生物医学专业的学生。周五他们完成了365天试验舱体验的第二阶段。

The first group of volunteers stayed in the cabin for 60 days and re-entered the cabin on Friday, replacing the second group, and starting the third and final phase of the experiment, which will last 105 days.

第一组志愿者在舱内待了60天，将于周五重返舱内，代替第二组志愿者完成实验的第三阶段。第三阶段将会持续105天。

The experiment is designed to test a bioregenerative life support system, in which animals, plants and microorganisms co-exist in a sealed environment, simulating a lunar base. The experiment also examines the physical and mental conditions of humans in such environment. Oxygen, water and food are recycled within the BLSS, creating an Earth-like environment.

实验的目的是测试生物再生生命保障系统，也就是动物、植物和微生物能在一个密封的环境共同生活，以此模拟月球基地的生活环境。这个实验同样将研究人在长期幽闭环境中身体和心理状况。在生物再生生命保障系统（BLSS）的作用之下，氧气、水、和食物像在地球一样可以循环再生。

A successful 105-day trial was conducted in 2014.

2014年持续了105天的实验顺利完成。

Liu Hong, chief designer of Yuegong-1, said the purpose of the new program was to test the stability of BLSS when “astronauts” take turns living in the cabin.

刘红是月宫1号的总设计师。她说这个项目是为了测试航天员在舱内生活时BLSS的稳定性。

“The second stage, during which three unexpected blackouts occurred, has challenged the system as well as the psychological status of the volunteers, but they withstood the test,” she said.

“在第二阶段的实验中，志愿者遭遇了三次意外断电，这三次意外无论是对系统还是志愿者的心理状态都是很大的挑战。但是他们最后依旧坚持了下来。”

The 200-day stint broke the record set in the former Soviet Union, where three people stayed for 180 days in a similar closed ecosystem in the early 1970s.

志愿者的舱内200天打破了20世纪70年代初期由俄罗斯科研人员创造驻留180天的世界纪录。

The longest blackout, due to a malfunction of an electric switch in the lab, lasted a whole night in the “comprehensive cabin,” the living quarters of the volunteers.

其中由于实验室电路发生故障，断电在志愿者居住的舱内持续了一整晚。

“Luckily, it was in the evening, and the volunteers simply went to bed, without being affected much,” Liu recalled, adding psychological data will be analyzed as part of the research.

幸运的是，正好赶到晚上，志愿者都去睡觉了，并没有受到太大的影响。刘红回忆说，心理数据的分析也是研究的一部分。

The Yuegong-1 measures only 150 square meters, consisting of two plant cabins and the comprehensive cabin. The volunteers grow fruit — principally strawberries — and vegetables.

月宫一号只有150平米的面积大小，包括两个植物舱。志愿者在植物舱种植水果和蔬菜，其中种植的水果大部分是草莓。

Yellow meal worms, which are edible and contain high levels of protein and other nutrients, are raised in the cabin. They are ground and mixed with flour to make a bread-like substance or fried on an electric stove in an oil-water mixture.

舱内还饲养了黄粉虫。一种可食昆虫，富含高蛋白和其他营养物质。他们和面粉搅拌在一起，做成面包形状或者在电子炉上用油炸一下。

“Except salt, seasonings and a small amount of pre-stored pork and chicken, everything in the cabin is regenerative,” said Liu.

刘红说：“除了盐、调味品、一点猪肉和鸡肉，舱内的所有东西都是可再生的。”

The volunteers have access to the Internet, play chess and darts, do yoga and ride exercise bikes.

志愿者可以上网、玩象棋飞镖、做瑜伽和骑健身车。

Volunteer Wang Wei said that over the past 200 days, she had learned to make steamed bread, dumplings, buns and even mooncake, a traditional snack for Mid-Autumn festival but one which is rarely made at home.

志愿者王薇说在过去的200天，她学会了蒸馒头、包饺子、做面包甚至学会了做月饼。月饼是中国人过中秋节时必备的传统点心，但是一般很少有人自己在家里做。

“I’m planning to cook the Spring Festival family banquet all by myself,” Wang, 26, said.

26岁的志愿者王说：“我打算亲自做一桌年夜饭。”

Wang and the other three had physical examinations on Friday and will stay in hospital for a week under observation.

王和其他三位志愿者将在周五接受身体检查，然后会住院隔离观察一周。

China has made great progress in space exploration in recent years.

近几年中国在航天领域方面取得了非凡的进步。