The Shenzhou-17 mission has successfully concluded its six-month journey, delivering a total of 31.5 kilograms of valuable research samples back to Earth. The return capsule touched down at the Dongfeng landing site in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region at 5:46 p.m. Beijing Time on Tuesday.
The three-member crew, consisting of astronauts Tang Hongbo, Tang Shengjie, and Jiang Xinlin, arrived in Beijing early Wednesday morning via plane after their extended mission aboard the space station.
Upon landing, the return capsule was swiftly transported to the Technology and Engineering Center for Space Utilization of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) in Beijing. The transfer of samples occurred approximately eight hours after touchdown.
The newly acquired samples span 23 scientific experiment projects, encompassing 32 types of life experiment samples and 18 material samples. The life samples include human bone cells, bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells, protein crystals, living organic molecules, and seeds. Material samples feature containerless materials, high-temperature materials, and extra-cabin exposure materials.
Scientists at CAS will conduct comprehensive biological analyses, including transcriptome sequencing and proteomics detection. These studies aim to uncover new insights for disease prevention and intervention by examining cellular mechanisms in a microgravity environment.
Additionally, protein diffraction will be performed to achieve more accurate three-dimensional structures, supporting the development of new drugs and vaccines.
The successful return of Shenzhou-17 marks a significant milestone in China's space exploration endeavors, contributing valuable data to the global scientific community.
Reference(s):
Samples from China's Shenzhou-17 mission delivered to scientists
cgtn.com
