China is set to embark on an ambitious new space mission with the launch of Shenzhou-18, aiming to conduct groundbreaking experiments that could pave the way for long-term human habitation in space.
Among the most exciting projects is an aquatic life support system that will create a self-sufficient ecosystem aboard the China Space Station. This experiment involves four zebrafish and hornwort plants, which together will demonstrate a closed-loop ecological cycle.
Professor Cang Huaixing, from the Technology and Engineering Center for Space Utilization at the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), explained that the Shenzhou-18 mission will include three life science experiments and one focused on material science.
“The aquatic life support system project will run in the space station for around one month,” said Professor Cang. “It will provide new insights into how we can sustain human life during long-duration space missions.”
Professor Wang Gaohong of the Institute of Hydrobiology at CAS, one of the scientists leading the life experiment, elaborated on the ecosystem. “With LED lighting, the hornwort will produce oxygen through photosynthesis, which will keep the zebrafish alive,” he said. “In turn, the fish produce carbon dioxide and nutrients that support the plants, creating a self-sufficient ecological circulation system.”
The mission also includes simulations of early Earth conditions, which could help scientists understand the origins of life, and experiments with super lubricant materials that could dramatically extend the lifespan of equipment in space.
These innovative experiments are expected to bring new understanding and technologies that will be crucial for future long-term space exploration missions, possibly including journeys to the Moon and Mars.
The Shenzhou-18 crew is set to begin their six-month mission aboard the China Space Station, continuing China’s rapid advancements in space exploration and research.
Reference(s):
China to probe long-term life-supporting system in new space mission
cgtn.com
