Applications of Vacuum Measurement Technology in China’s Space Programs

The significance of vacuum measurement technology is increasingly prominent in China’s thriving space industry. Lanzhou Institute of Physics (LIP) has been dedicated to the development of payloads and space-related vacuum technology for decades, and widely participated in China’s space programs. In this paper, we present several payloads carried on satellites, spaceships, and space stations; the methodologies of which covered the fields of total and partial pressure measurement, vacuum and pressure leak detection, and standard gas inlet technology. Then, we introduce the corresponding calibration standards developed in LIP, which guaranteed the detection precision of these payloads. This review also provides some suggestions and expectations for the future development and application of vacuum measurement technology in space exploration.