China's Moon mission sees first seeds spring into life

Sprouts became the first biological matter to grow on the moon


Reuters January 16, 2019
Cotton sprouts seen close-up under a protective cover on board the Moon lander. PHOTO: CLEP

BEIJING: A photograph released on Tuesday by China's National Space Administration showed seeds, carried by China's Chang'e-4 moon probe, sprouting on the far side of the moon.

US regulator approves SpaceX plan for broadband satellite services

The cottonseed sprouts became the first biological matter to grow on the moon and according to the probe's biological experiment payload's chief designer, was laying the foundation for a lunar base and long-term space exploration.

The Chang'e-4 lunar probe landed on January 3 and transmitted the first-ever "close range" image of the far side of the moon. China's National Space Administration applauded the launch as a first that "lifted the mysterious veil" of the far side of the moon and claimed it as a major achievement for the country's ambitious space program.

NASA wants people on Mars within 25 years

The tasks of the Chang'e-4 include astronomical observation, surveying the moon's terrain and mineral makeup and measuring the neutron radiation and neutral atoms to study the environment of its far side.

COMMENTS

Replying to X

Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.

For more information, please see our Comments FAQ