China revives desert moss in space lab as it tests hi-tech tools for future missions
Latest in-orbit results from prototype Qingzhou cargo spacecraft show China is testing cameras, refrigeration and bio-support capsule
The plant, a highly drought-resistant species called Syntrichia caninervis, was revived after being subjected to a series of extreme space conditions – including microgravity, intense radiation and severe dehydration – showing it is remarkably resilient in space, according to the report.
Chinese scientists had previously established in simulated Martian environments that the moss was a promising pioneer species for colonising extraterrestrial worlds.
The findings are expected to “provide theoretical backing” for its use in low-energy ecological improvement and the in-situ use of local resources for future off-Earth settlements.
The experiment was among the latest in-orbit test results from the prototype Qingzhou cargo spacecraft that were released on Monday following an earlier batch of scientific and engineering trial outcomes announced in April.