China Focus: Taikonauts to conduct in-orbit experiments on fruit flies

The newly launched Shenzhou-19 taikonauts have embarked on their six-month journey aboard China's space station. Their packed schedule includes 86 sci-tech experiments, with a particularly intriguing one - the fruit fly research, aimed at studying the growth and behaviors of these insects at a distance of 400 km above Earth.

The fruit fly is one of the model species frequently used in genetic experiments. It is small, measuring only 3 to 4 mm in length, and has a short life cycle with fast reproduction capabilities, enabling it to produce a large number of offspring within a short period, according to Zhang Wei, a researcher involved in the selection of in-orbit scientific experiments, at the Technology and Engineering Center for Space Utilization under the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

"The genes of fruit flies share many similarities with those of humans, so the study can help with understanding human genetic diseases and provide insights into how humans adapt to space environments," Zhang said in a recent interview.

He also noted that future space research plans will involve conducting experiments on mice, which are more complex life forms compared to fruit flies.

"We have planned to send mice to space for breeding on an animal platform. And some lab mice in space may be brought back to Earth for further study, which will focus on their nerves, bones, muscles and immunity," the researcher added.

This is the first time that China has taken the small insects into space, and the aim of the study seems to be exploring the deeper universe.

According to scientists, Earth provides a magnetic field as a basic guarantee for our daily lives, but Mars does not possess similar strong magnetic protection and the moon has none at all. Understanding how the human body responds to such an environment remains a major challenge in space exploration.

"So we have to conduct relevant research in advance, creating a sub-magnetic environment and observing how the fruit flies develop, grow and behave," Zhang said.

China launched the Shenzhou-19 (Magical Ship) crewed spaceship on Oct. 30, sending three taikonauts, two male and one female, to its orbiting space station Tiangong (Heavenly Palace) for a half-year stay. The trio in mid-November will witness the arrival of Tianzhou-8 (Sky Ship) cargo craft, which will send up supplies and experiment payloads, including the sub-magnetic facility with fruit flies, according to the researcher.

The previous Shenzhou-18 crew during their six-month mission also performed numerous experiments inside the national space lab, and one task was creating an "aquarium" and raising four zebra fish and four grams of goldfish algae in zero gravity, a breakthrough in the field of raising vertebrates in space.

Not only the taikonauts found joy in the space "aquarium," but it also paved the way for their future counterparts to enjoy nutritious fish from their own in-orbit harvests.

According to scientists, the water, fish eggs and other experimental samples obtained through the space "aquarium" have been brought back to Earth with the crew on Monday. These samples will provide valuable data for scientists to study vertebrate lives.

Besides life science experiments, the orbiting taikonauts will carry out research on materials, including rare earth soft magnetic materials, blade materials for gas turbines and special functional crystals. These findings will provide insights for developing advanced instruments on Earth.

Quelle: Xinhua

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Update: 11.11.2024

China's Tianzhou-7 cargo craft separates from space station combination

The Tianzhou-7 cargo craft, tasked with carrying supplies for China's space station, separated from the station combination at 4:30 p.m. Sunday (Beijing Time) and switched to independent flight, according to the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA).

The cargo craft will re-enter the Earth's atmosphere in a controlled manner soon. Most of its components will burn up and be destroyed during the process, while a small amount of debris will fall into designated safe waters in the South Pacific, the CMSA said.

The CMSA has planned a total of two cargo supply missions in 2024, including Tianzhou-7 and Tianzhou-8.

Tianzhou-7 was launched on Jan. 17 from the Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site in the southern island province of Hainan. Tianzhou-8 has been rescheduled for mid-November due to the impact of Super Typhoon Yagi on Wenchang.

Quelle: Xinhua

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Update: 17.11.2024

Shenzhou-19 crew receive delivery from Earth

China's Shenzhou-19 crew aboard the orbiting Tiangong space station received a shipment of supplies from Earth on Saturday, after the Tianzhou-8 cargo spacecraft successfully docked with the space station.

At 8:26 a.m., astronaut Cai Xuzhe opened the hatch of Tianzhou-8 and entered the cargo ship.

Tianzhou-8 carried approximately six tonnes of materials, including consumables for the astronauts' in-orbit residency, propellants, experiment equipment, and over 400 kilograms of scientific research supplies.

The Shenzhou-19 crew will proceed with cargo transfer and other related tasks as planned.

China launched Tianzhou-8 on Friday night to deliver supplies to its orbiting Tiangong space station. About three hours later, the cargo craft successfully docked with the space station.

Quelle: Xinhua

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China's cargo craft Tianzhou-8 docks with space station Tiangong

This simulated image captured at the Beijing Aerospace Control Center on Nov. 16, 2024 shows China's cargo spacecraft Tianzhou-8 docking with the orbiting Tiangong space station. The cargo craft Tianzhou-8 has successfully docked with the orbiting Tiangong space station on Saturday, the China Manned Space Agency announced. At 2:32 a.m. (Beijing Time), Tianzhou-8 docked at the rear docking port of Tianhe, the core module of Tiangong space station, after completing its status setting, according to the agency. The Shenzhou-19 taikonauts onboard the space station will enter the cargo craft and transfer the payloads as per schedule. (Photo by Han Qiyang/Xinhua)