Shenzhou-21 launch tonight with 4 mice aboard to be studied for space effects
發佈日期: 2025-10-31 20:16
TVB News
China's Shenzhou-21 manned spacecraft is scheduled to lift off tonight at 11:44 p.m. at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre in northwest China.
The mission also marks the first time that rodents, or mammalian samples, are sent to China's space station for science experiments.
The Shenzhou-21 crew consists of astronaut and commander in chief Zhang Lu, flight engineer Wu Fei and payload specialist Zhang Hongzhang.
32-year-old Wu Fei is marking the youngest astronaut in China's space missions.
Also heading to space are four handpicked mice.
They were chosen from 300 "candidate" rodents which underwent multiple rounds of elimination and fitness tests over two months.
Only those who stayed on the longest -- and did not fall on custom-made running wheels could move on to the next round.
They were then tested for motion sickness resistance, being placed in rotating containers at high speed before being taken to tread the balancing beams.
Researchers also designed a maze for the mice to test their memory and intelligence, ensuring they can accurately find food in the space environment.
The four chosen mice will be placed in special containers, being observed by astronauts and ground scientists over their behaviour in space amid microgravity with confined spaces.
Following a five-to-seven-day orbital stay, the mice will return to Earth aboard the Shenzhou-20 spacecraft for further scientific studies.
