中国科幻电影《流浪地球2》引发了观众对其中天文知识的好奇以及对剧情的讨论。近年来，多部优秀科幻作品的诞生也使中国科幻产业备受关注。在接受CGTN记者郭梅平采访时，国际宇航联空间运输委员会副主席杨宇光博士表示，中国科幻产业的发展也将对科技发展起到积极作用。
China's homemade sci-fi movie "The Wandering Earth II" has become a certified blockbuster since its release on January 22. Based on a short story by Chinese sci-fi novelist Liu Cixin, the movie has triggered audiences' analysis of the plot and discussion on China's sci-fi industry.
CGTN sits with Dr. Yang Yuguang, vice chair of the IAF Space Transportation Committee, and discusses how the development of China's sci-fi industry can positively impact the country's scientific and technological development.
Dr. Yang sees "The Wandering Earth II" as the "best sci-fi movie ever been produced by China" and mentions the scene of the space elevator as the "only shortcoming."
"Space [elevators] should use electricity, not propellants," says Dr. Yang, adding that maybe the producer and director used a rocket engine to power the elevator for a more powerful visual effect.
A poster of "The Wandering Earth II" is seen in a movie theater in Beijing, January 14, 2023. /CFP
"The reason we study the space elevator is that it does not use any propellant," he says, adding that if the space elevator can be brought into reality, it will use only electricity and greatly reduce the cost of going to outer space.
Dr. Yang compliments the use of many technological concepts in the movie, including the quantum computer, artificial intelligence (AI), and the presentation of lives in the digital world.
In 2020, China released a series of policies to promote the development of sci-fi movies, including building a pool of science consultants for sci-fi movies.
"The Wandering Earth II" and the TV series based on Liu Cixin's novel, "The Three-body Problem," both had teams of science consultants during their production.
"They did a very great job and played a very important role in producing these movies and TV series," Dr. Yang says.
He stresses the technicians, engineers and scientists must set up a bridge between the professional scientific fields and the public.
Major Chinese technology and science enterprises express support for "The Wandering Earth II." /Zhu Shangfan
Many major Chinese technology and science enterprises have expressed their support for "The Wandering Earth II" by saying, "You can imagine it, we will make it happen."
Dr. Yang believes the development of China's sci-fi industry can help to boost the country's technological and scientific development.
"In many works of Mr. Liu Cixin, he also has very good ideas. For instance, we've already discussed the space elevator," says Dr. Yang. He mentions that nanotechnology and nanomaterials will be very critical to hopefully becoming the key point of producing the space elevator in "The Wandering Earth II."
"Also, AI, especially the quantum computer… it's a very hopeful field," he says.
