China’s Manned Space Agency (CMSA) has released its first report on the scientific research and applications conducted aboard the country’s space station, highlighting 34 significant results since the station’s full completion on December 31, 2022.
The report details achievements in three key areas: 13 findings in space life and human research, 12 in microgravity physical science, and nine in new space technology and applications. Among these are several world firsts, such as the development of germplasm resources of rice and ratoon rice in space, and the differentiation of human embryonic stem cells into hematopoietic stem/precursor cells in the microgravity environment.
Other notable accomplishments include the operation of the world’s first cold atom interference gyroscope in space, the establishment of a high-throughput in-orbit microbial control test platform, and the longest continuous operation of an aquatic ecosystem in orbit.
These groundbreaking achievements stem from 181 scientific and application projects carried out aboard China’s space station as of December 1, 2023. The research involved sending nearly two tonnes of scientific materials to the station, returning approximately 100 types of experimental samples to Earth, and generating over 300 terabytes of scientific data.
The report credits the efforts of 63 scientific research teams across the country, resulting in the publication of over 500 high-level papers in SCI journals and the acquisition of more than 150 patents.
Looking ahead, the CMSA announced plans for the space station to undertake more than 1,000 research projects over the next 10 to 15 years, with a focus on scientific popularization and international cooperation.
Since entering the application and development stage on December 31, 2022, China’s space station has been operating smoothly, completing multiple manned missions. These include four manned flights, three cargo supply missions, and four spacecraft reentry missions. To date, five crews of Chinese taikonauts have stayed or are currently staying aboard the space station, conducting 10 extravehicular activities.
The candidates for the fourth cohort of Chinese taikonauts have been confirmed, signaling continued advancements in the nation’s space exploration endeavors.
Reference(s):
China releases first report on space station research and application
cgtn.com
