Four experimental mice have returned to Earth with a Chinese astronaut crew, concluding a nearly two-week mission aboard China’s space station that yielded valuable data on mammalian adaptation to microgravity.
The rodents represent the first mammals sent to the Chinese space station, a significant step in the nation’s space biology research.
Their mission was designed to observe how living organisms adjust to the challenges of the space environment.
Researchers aim to use the extensive video data collected to understand the effects of weightlessness and confinement on the mice’s behavior and adaptation.
The four mice were launched to the orbital outpost on October 31 aboard the Shenzhou-21 spacecraft.
Their time in orbit was unexpectedly extended, almost doubling the initially planned duration. This extended stay could provide even more insights into long-term space effects.
The mice returned with the three astronauts of the Shenzhou-20 mission. The data gathered is considered crucial for future biological studies and potential human long-duration spaceflight.