Beijing, China — China has released its first comprehensive report on the scientific research and applications conducted aboard its space station since its full completion on December 31, 2022. The report highlights 34 significant results, marking a new chapter in the nation’s space exploration endeavors.
Among the groundbreaking achievements are 13 advancements in space life and human research, 12 in microgravity physical science, and nine in new space technology and applications. These milestones include the development of the first germplasm resources of rice and ratoon rice cultivated in space and the differentiation of human embryonic stem cells into hematopoietic stem and precursor cells in a microgravity environment.
Notably, the space station has achieved several world-firsts, such as operating the earliest cold atom interference gyroscope in space microgravity, establishing a high-throughput in-orbit microbial control test platform, and maintaining the longest-running water ecosystem in orbit.
Since its inception, the space station has implemented 181 scientific and application projects, involving nearly two tonnes of scientific materials transported to space and around 100 types of experimental samples returned to Earth. The efforts have generated over 300 terabytes of scientific data.
These accomplishments are the result of collaboration among 63 scientific research teams across China. Collectively, they have published more than 500 high-level papers in Science Citation Index (SCI) journals and obtained over 150 patents, underscoring the country’s commitment to advancing space science and technology.
Looking ahead, the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA) announced plans to carry out more than 1,000 research projects over the next 10 to 15 years. These initiatives will include active scientific popularization and expanded international cooperation, aiming to foster innovation and share knowledge globally.
Since entering the application and development stage, the space station has successfully completed multiple manned missions. These include four manned flight missions, three cargo supply missions, and four spacecraft reentry missions. To date, five teams of Chinese taikonauts have lived aboard the station, with 10 extravehicular activities conducted to support ongoing research and maintenance.
In a move to continue this momentum, candidates for the fourth cohort of Chinese taikonauts have been confirmed, signaling China’s dedication to sustaining and expanding its presence in space.
The achievements of China’s space station not only represent significant scientific progress but also reflect the nation’s growing role in the international space community. As research continues, the station is poised to contribute further to the understanding of space science and its applications on Earth.
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China releases first report on space station research and application
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