Shenzhou-19 mission to take fruit flies into space for the first time

The Shenzhou-19 mission will take fruit flies to space for the first time, according to Zhang Wei, a researcher from the Technology and Engineering Center for Space Utilization of the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

The mission is China's first attempt to study fruit flies at the space station as part of a series of space life science experiments. Scientists will create a low-magnetic environment in space to observe the flies' growth, development, and behavior under said conditions.

Unlike Earth, which has a magnetic field, Mars has only a weak magnetic field, and the moon has none. By establishing a low-magnetic environment in space, researchers aim to explore how reduced magnetism and microgravity affect the behavior and growth of fruit flies.

With a body length of just 3 to 4 millimeters, a short life cycle, rapid reproduction, and a large number of offspring, fruit flies are ideal "model organisms" for genetic experiments. Their genetic similarities to humans make them valuable in studying human genetic diseases and provide insights into human adaptation to space environments.

"We're also planning to send mice to the space station in the future to conduct in-depth studies on their nervous systems, bones, muscles, immunity, and other key areas," Zhang said.

The Shenzhou-19 mission will research fluids, combustion, and materials in addition to conducting biological experiments involving fruit flies.

It isn't the first time China's manned missions have carried live animals into space. In April, the Shenzhou-18 crew brought zebrafish to China's Tiangong Space Station, creating a simplified aquatic ecosystem and achieving a breakthrough in raising vertebrates in space.

The Shenzhou-19 spacecraft is set to launch from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China at 4:27 a.m. on Wednesday, carrying a three-member crew that includes two male and one female astronaut.

(Cover: The Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center conducts a full-system joint exercise for the upcoming Shenzhou-19 mission in northwest China, October 26, 2024.)