China which is planning an exploratory craft on the moon for the first time next year, as part of an ambitious space programme that includes a long-term plan for a manned moon landing, has started planning many other innovative projects in advance.
Chinese astronauts to live off the land by growing vegetable and making own oxygen when on Moon and Mars missions [File Photo: AFP]
The Chinese space specialists want their astronauts to 'live off the land' and grow their own vegetable and harvest fresh vegetable, besides developing their own stock of air, water and food while on space missions, Xinhua news agency said Monday.
The Chinese researchers have successfully completed a preliminary test in Beijing, and four kinds of vegetables were grown in an “ecological life support system”, a 300 cubic metre cabin, which will accompany on space missions for the sustenance of the astronauts.
The system, which relies on plants and algae, is “expected to be used in extra-terrestrial bases on the moon or Mars”, the report said.
“Chinese astronauts may get fresh vegetables and oxygen supplies by gardening in extra-terrestrial bases in the future,” the report said, adding that the experiment was the first of its kind in China.
Read more about it at: Express Tribune
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