At 14:22, July 24, 2022, Long March 5B No. 3 Telemetry Launch Vehicle that carries Wentian Lab Module of China Space Station was successfully launched in Wenchang Space Launch Site in Hainan. After attitude adjustment and system commissioning on the scheduled orbit of Wentian Lab Module, the Alpha solar directional drive mechanism of its solar cell wing will be put into use. The alignment gear transmission of the Alpha mechanism was independently developed by Chongqing University, and the final product of alignment gear was delivered with the substantial help of Shanghai Aerospace Systems Engineering Institute, Shanghai Aerospace Equipment Manufacturing Factory, and Zhengzhou Machinery Research Institute.

Alignment gear transmission is a new type of gear transmission proposed by Professor Chen Bingkui of the State Key Laboratory of Mechanical Transmissions. Its outstanding error adaptability and high bearing capacity allow it to meet the stringent requirements for ultra large space size deformation, high reliability, long service life and other requirements imposed by the alternation of extreme high and low temperature in space on the Alpha mechanism. Building on the previous theoretical research and industrial application, the team of Professor Chen Bingkui has been devoted to R&D of alignment gear transmission of Alpha mechanism for nearly 8 years, and has resolve key technological problems in theory and method of gear design, digital closed-loop precision machining and measurement of alignment gear under the action of multiple physical quantities, technology and equipment for accelerated fatigue life test of gear under simulated conditions, and successfully delivered the Alpha mechanism alignment gear product for Wentian Lab Module and Mengtian Lab Module.