Thirty-three scientific experiments, including research on osteoporosis, are set to be launched on the Chinese space station with the Tianzhou-7 cargo spacecraft. This significant milestone will support the continuous rolling development of space station on-orbit experiments.
Liu Wei, the overall chief designer of the China Manned Space Engineering Space Application System Cargo Spaceship Mission, revealed that a total of 61 pieces of application materials were sent to the China Space Station along with the Tianzhou-7 cargo spacecraft, with a total weight of approximately 473 kilograms. These materials include 33 scientific experiments such as space life science, space material science, microgravity fluid physics, and combustion science.
The cargo spacecraft has sent more scientific experimental projects to the existing experimental facilities inside and outside the space station cabin, involving 10 research institutes and 8 universities. It is the most sent to the space station so far by a Tianzhou cargo spacecraft for scientific experiment projects.
One of the unique “passengers” on the Tianzhou-7 cargo spacecraft is a batch of cell experimental samples. These samples have strict requirements on their living environment, necessitating special preparations and equipment to ensure their health during spaceflight.
Another experiment of note involves the study of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells to understand the phenomenon of osteoporosis in space. Research shows that bone loss accelerates in space, and this study aims to find intervention targets and develop drugs or intervention methods targeting these targets.
The experimental samples carried by the Tianzhou-7 cargo spacecraft will aid in deepening the understanding of bone changes in space. After obtaining credible evidence at the cellular level, researchers will conduct mouse experiments on the space station to verify the effectiveness of the drugs developed.
Ultimately, these scientific experiments will not only contribute to ensuring the health of astronauts in orbit but also provide valuable insights for osteoporosis prevention and treatment on Earth. This marks a significant step forward in space research and its potential impact on human health and wellbeing.