A China is preparing for it Send zebra fish to your space stationTiangong, in an initiative aimed at studying the interaction between these tiny creatures and microorganisms in a closed ecosystem.
The fish experiments will contribute to research into bone loss astronauts, a challenge for those who spend extended periods of time in zerogravity environments. Learn more below.
adaptation to the environment
Zhang Wei, assistant to the supreme commander of China’s manned space application system, introduced the plan during the seminar on requesting science and application projects for the space station held in Beijing on July 10.
The aim is to increase knowledge about the adaptations of fish to microgravity environments and their behavior under such conditions.
(Image: NASA/Reproduction)
Although this is a new endeavor for China, it is not the first time fish have been sent into space. In 1976 the Soviet Union sent zebrafish, also known as Danio Rerio, aboard the Soyuz 21 mission to the Salyut 5 space station.
At that time, Soviet cosmonauts conducted experiments that were able to show that fish exhibited behavioral changes in response to the microgravity environment.
Animal research in space is nothing new. Since the beginning of space exploration, monkeys, mice, dogs, rabbits, guinea pigs, insects, rats, chimpanzees, cats, turtles, and flies have been sent on missions to better understand the effects of the space environment on living organisms.
A NASAFor example, the first monkey sent Albert 1 in 1948, and the first monkey to survive a space flight was Yorick in 1951. Later, the Soviet Union sent the famous dog Laika aboard Sputnik 2 in 1957, becoming the first living thing to enter Earth orbit, although unfortunately she didn’t survive long.
Despite the losses, research involving animals in space provided scientists with valuable information, enabled technological advances, and helped prepare for the future space missions occupied.
The experiments helped to understand the effects of microgravity on living organisms and to develop countermeasures to the challenges faced by astronauts on longduration space missions.
With advances in space technology and continued commitment to deep space exploration, studies such as sending zebrafish to the Tiangong Space Station represent another important step towards a better understanding of space and its interactions with life on Earth. Earth.