Beijing: China's first rodents sent into space for scientific experiments have successfully returned to Earth after a 14-day mission, alongside the three astronauts of the Shenzhou-20 mission. The mission marks a significant step in China's space exploration efforts.
According to Anadolu Agency, the four mice, comprising two males and two females, were launched to China's Tiangong space station aboard the Shenzhou-21 spacecraft on October 31. Their purpose was to conduct China's inaugural in-orbit rodent experiments, which focused on understanding the effects of space conditions such as microgravity and confined environments on the animals' behavior.
During their mission, the "mouse astronauts" remained at the space station for nearly twice the originally planned duration. This extension was due to the delayed return of the Shenzhou-20 crew, which was postponed following a suspected impact from tiny space debris. Eventually, the crew and the mice returned on Friday.
Upon landing, researchers promptly examined the mice on-site. They observed the rodents' behavior and assessed key physiological and biochemical indicators. The findings from this experiment are expected to lay crucial groundwork for future large-scale mammalian research conducted in orbit.
In addition to the rodents, the return capsule also brought back various materials, combustion experiment samples, and other life-science samples, contributing to the wealth of data and materials gathered during this mission.