The upcoming Shenzhou-19 mission will mark China’s first attempt to study fruit flies in space. According to Zhang Wei, a researcher from the Technology and Engineering Center for Space Utilization of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the mission will carry fruit flies to the space station as part of a series of space life science experiments.
Scientists plan to create a low-magnetic environment aboard the space station to observe the growth, development, and behavior of the fruit flies under these conditions. This experiment aims to explore how reduced magnetism, combined with microgravity, affects living organisms.
On Earth, the magnetic field plays a crucial role in various biological processes. In contrast, Mars has only a weak magnetic field, and the Moon has none. By simulating a low-magnetic environment in space, researchers hope to gain insights into how life might adapt to environments with diminished or absent magnetic fields, which is essential for future long-term space exploration and potential habitation.
The study of fruit flies, known scientifically as Drosophila melanogaster, is significant because of their short life cycles and well-understood genetics, making them ideal model organisms for biological research. The findings from this experiment could contribute to our understanding of the fundamental effects of space environments on life and assist in developing strategies to support human health during extended space missions.
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Shenzhou-19 mission to take fruit flies into space for the first time
cgtn.com
