Imagine traveling beyond our atmosphere… then returning to raise a new generation! 🚀🐭
Earlier this year, on October 31, four mice boarded China's Shenzhou-21 spacecraft to study survival and adaptation in space. They lived in a specially designed small mammal habitat aboard the Chinese space station. After touching down on Earth on November 14, one female mouse became a space mom.
On December 10, she gave birth to nine pups, six of which are now healthy and active—a normal survival rate for mice. This marks the very first generation conceived after a spaceflight mission by mice, opening exciting doors in space biology research.
Scientists at the Technology and Engineering Center for Space Utilization at the Chinese Academy of Sciences say these findings help us understand reproduction and life science in microgravity. Future missions could build on this success, moving us closer to long-term space exploration where every life cycle can be supported off-planet.
As we dream of Mars colonies and lunar bases, these tiny pioneers are leading the way—one paw at a time! 🌕🐾
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
