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China Achieves Milestone With First Paddy Cultivation in Space
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News18•18-10-2026, 18:05
China Achieves Milestone With First Paddy Cultivation in Space
- •The Shenzhou-23 astronaut crew at China's Tiangong space station achieved new breakthroughs in the country's first space paddy cultivation research.
- •Astronauts successfully completed seeding and storage operations, which will soon return to Earth for floral and molecular level studies.
- •This research helps understand how long-term microgravity affects the genetic stability of rice.
- •Astronauts conducted mutual interaction tests with their robotic companion Xiaong to collect data on movement responses.
- •They also successfully completed space exercise research data collection, grip strength tests, and core muscle ultrasound examinations.
Key Questions Answered
The Shenzhou-23 astronauts stationed at the Tiangong space station completed seeding and storage operations for space paddy cultivation. These samples will return to Earth to study how long-term microgravity affects the genetic stability of rice.
The astronauts conducted mutual interaction tests with their robotic companion, Xiaong, collecting data on how the robot's movements respond to various types of touches.
In addition to plant research, the astronauts successfully completed space exercise research data collection, grip strength tests, ultrasound examinations of core muscles against gravity, and necessary maintenance tasks.
