China releases first report on space station research and application

China Manned Space Agency (CMSA) on Monday released the first report on the progress of the scientific research and application in China's space station, highlighting 34 results since the station's full completion on December 31, 2022.

There are 13 results related to space life and human research, 12 in microgravity physical science research, and nine in new space technology and application research.

They outline multiple world records, like the first germplasm resources of rice and ratoon rice developed in space, and the first human embryonic stem cells differentiated into hematopoietic stem/precursor cells in space.

They also include the world's first cold atom interference gyroscope in space microgravity, the first high-throughput in-orbit microbial control test platform, and the longest time of running of a water ecosystem in orbit.

The groundbreaking achievements are based on 181 scientific and application projects implemented in China's space station as of December 1, 2024.

Research involved nearly two tonnes of scientific materials sent up to the station, some 100 types of experimental samples brought back to Earth, and more than 300TB of scientific data.

The results are the contributions of 63 scientific research teams across the country, with more than 500 high-level SCI papers published and 150 plus patents obtained.

The station will carry out more than 1,000 research projects in the next 10 to 15 years, with actively implemented scientific popularization and international cooperation, according to CMSA.

China's space station entered the application and development stage on December 31, 2022, and has since been running smoothly with multiple manned missions completed. These include four manned flight missions, three cargo supply missions and four spacecraft reentry missions.

In addition, five Chinese taikonaut trios have stayed or are currently staying in China's space station, with 10 extravehicular activities conducted. 

Candidates for the fourth cohort of the Chinese taikonauts have been confirmed.