BEIJING, April 17 (Xinhua) – The following is a summary of the science and technology news released from China.
SATELLITE UPGRADE
China completed a ground system upgrade for its first-generation relay satellite, Tianlian I, on Friday, according to the Beijing Space Information Transmission Center.
The upgrade allows the country to operate its two generations of relay satellite systems, Tianlian I and Tianlian II-1, in an integrated manner, the center said.
It also greatly improves the reliability of the relay satellite systems, as well as their maintainable and automatic nature.
The relay satellite systems will continue to assist the country in enhancing its tracking, telemetry and control capabilities and will play a role in the country’s upcoming space station mission, according to the center.
GREENHOUSE GASES
Chinese researchers have discovered that greenhouse gases and anthropogenic aerosols induced precipitation reduction in north-central Asia.
The subtropical west jet is one of the most important circulation systems in Eurasia and is closely linked in various time scales to the summer rainfall over north-central Asia.
The observed changes in the subtropical west ray are due to the combined contributions of greenhouse gases and anthropogenic aerosols, according to the most recent research article in the journal Geophysical Research Letters.
DRIVERLESS TRAIN
The southwest Chinese community of Chongqing launched its first driverless rail transit system, BYD SkyShuttle, in the Bishan district on Friday, according to local authorities.
Developed by China’s leading manufacturer of new energy vehicles, BYD, the rail transit system includes electrically powered, autonomous trains that run on a 15.4 km long elevated railway line. There are 15 stops along the route.
The vehicles can turn in a radius of at least 15 meters and carry 6,000 to 10,000 passengers per hour at a maximum speed of 80 km per hour.
