Shenzhou-23 crew advances multi-generation rice growth in orbit

More than two months after arriving at China's space station, the three astronauts of the Shenzhou-23 spaceflight mission – Zhu Yangzhu, Zhang Zhiyuan, and Lai Ka-ying – are all in good condition and have made steady progress on multiple space science experiments, including a groundbreaking study on multi-generational rice cultivation in microgravity.

The Shenzhou-23 spacecraft lifted off on May 24, carrying rice seeds and other scientific payloads to the China Space Station. After more than two months of cultivation, the astronauts have harvested the first batch of experimental rice samples.

The experiment is expected to become the first to cultivate two successive generations of rice in orbit, enabling researchers to complete two full life cycles of the crop in microgravity. The study is expected to reveal how prolonged exposure to the space environment affects the genetic stability of rice across generations.

China conducted the world's first full life-cycle rice cultivation experiment in space in 2022. During that mission, six rice seeds were grown aboard the China Space Station for 120 days, producing 59 first-generation space-grown seeds that were returned to Earth with the Shenzhou-14 crew.

The current experiment uses two types of japonica rice, a variety known for its adaptability and three- to four-month growing cycle. One group consists of ordinary seeds that have never left Earth, while the other comes from seeds harvested aboard the space station in 2022 and subsequently propagated for three generations after returning to Earth.

Researchers say the study could provide important theoretical support for in-situ food production beyond Earth – the ability to grow crops in space without relying on resupply missions from Earth. Such capability is considered essential for future long-duration human exploration of deep space.

Other recent works in-orbit

In space medicine, the astronauts used ultrasound equipment to examine the carotid, radial and dorsalis pedis arteries. The data will support studies on vascular hemodynamics and the long-term effects of microgravity on blood circulation.

The crew also conducted experiments on the station's lighting environment, adjusting cabin illumination and evaluating crew performance before and after the changes to better understand how lighting conditions affect psychological well-being and work efficiency in space.

To enhance operational readiness, the astronauts completed scheduled emergency response training, including evacuation drills under simulated fire scenarios.

Routine health monitoring has also continued, with the crew undergoing electrocardiograms, vision tests, intraocular pressure measurements and retinal examinations. They also measured body mass using specialized equipment designed for microgravity to track physiological changes during long-duration spaceflight.

In addition, the astronauts maintained their daily exercise routine using treadmills and other onboard fitness equipment to help counter the effects of prolonged weightlessness.