Guess what just happened in space exploration! 🚀 China’s first reusable and returnable satellite, Shijian-19, has safely returned to Earth, bringing back some super cool science experiments and seeds that could change the future of farming! 🌾
On Thursday, the China National Space Administration (CNSA) held a handover ceremony in Beijing to deliver the scientific payloads to both Chinese and international users, including friends from Thailand and Pakistan. Talk about global collaboration! 🌍🤝
Bian Zhigang, deputy head of CNSA, shared that Shijian-19 carried out space breeding experiments with about 1,000 species of germplasm resources. That's a fancy way of saying they sent a ton of seeds into space to see how they might grow differently—and better! This could be huge for developing new crops and boosting food security worldwide. 🍅🥕🥦
Meng Lingjie, director of the Earth Observation System and Data Center under the CNSA, highlighted that Shijian-19 is a game-changer. This satellite can be reused more than 10 times, cutting down costs and making space experiments more efficient. Think of it like the reusable rockets from SpaceX, but with satellites! How cool is that? 😎
The satellite didn't just carry seeds. It was a floating lab conducting experiments on things like microgravity hydrogen production, low-frequency magnetic communications, and even wireless power transmission. Science fiction is becoming science fact! 🔬⚡
What's more, the mission was a global effort. Seeds from Thailand and Pakistan joined the space journey, aiming to develop crops that can withstand climate change and improve nutrition. Liu Luxiang, the executive director general of the Institute of Crop Sciences, mentioned that in the face of global food challenges, innovations like this are vital. 🌍🌱
Over the past 30 years, China’s space breeding program has developed over 300 crop varieties, covering an annual cultivation area of about 2 million hectares. That's a lot of food on our plates, thanks to space science! 🍚🥘
Shijian-19 was launched on September 27 from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center and made its return on October 11. With missions like these, the future of space exploration and agriculture looks brighter than ever! ✨
Reference(s):
China's first reusable, returnable satellite delivers payloads
cgtn.com
