The First Piece Of Cotton Sprouts On The Surface! Chang'E Four Completed The First Human Lunar Biological Experiment To Surprise The Textile People.

The popular science experiment on the moon chose six species of cotton, rape, potato, Arabidopsis, yeast and Drosophila as samples, and carried their seeds and eggs to the moon for breeding. The latest pictures show that the buds of cotton grow well. This is the first plant buds that grow on the moon after experiencing severe environmental conditions such as low gravity, strong radiation and high temperature.

It is understood that the biological selection of the popular science experiment has very strict requirements. Due to the limited load, the animals and plants in it are not allowed to occupy too much space. Therefore, the first condition is "small size". At the same time, it should also be able to adapt to the extreme conditions of the lunar surface, requiring that animals and plants be able to withstand high temperatures, freeze resistance, and be able to resist radiation and interference.

Follow up, this plant has successfully developed the tender buds will continue to grow, is expected to become the first green leaves on the moon.

It is understood that this biological science test load biological species screening in addition to achieving the minimum goal of seed germination and larval growth in the lunar surface environment, and more importantly, based on the long-term consideration of further research on space biology in the future, and this is also a guarantee for the future survival of mankind into the moon and even the outer planet. Grain, cotton and oil are the most basic needs of human existence. Potatoes are a familiar food and will probably be the staple food in the future. Rapeseed, as an important oil crop, is an indispensable oil guarantee for space food. Arabidopsis, Drosophila, and yeasts are selected as a model species for global scientists to study biological patterns. They are short in growth cycle and can be displayed in a short time to display complete life processes, so as to facilitate the study of biological growth and metabolism.

It is understood that in 2015, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the Ministry of education, the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the China Association for science and the Central Committee of the Communist Youth League jointly launched the biological science test load of Chang'e four popular science experiment. The "biological science experiment load project" of Chongqing University stands out in nearly 300 works and was finally identified as one of the projects carried out by the end of 2016.

The biological science test load is made of special aluminum alloy material. The diameter is 173 millimeters, and the height is 198.3 millimeters. Besides 6 organisms, 18 milliliters of water, and two cameras for recording biological growth state, the total weight is 2.608 kg, and the biological growth space is 1 litres.

The biological science experiment load project will show the growth and development state of organisms under the conditions of low gravity and strong radiation. In microecosystem, plants are responsible for the production of oxygen and food for consumption of all organisms. As consumers, the fruit flies and decomposer yeasts produce carbon dioxide by consuming oxygen to make photosynthesis for plants. In addition, yeasts can decompose plants and fruit fly wastes, and yeast can be used as food for fruit flies.

Popular science time:

How do six kinds of cotton grow on the moon?

It is understood that six kinds of organisms, such as cotton, carried in the biological science test load, form a simple micro ecosystem, all placed in the sealed biological science test load tank. During the assembly process, all biological loading operations are carried out in a super clean workbench with strict aseptic environment to ensure no biological contamination in the whole process.

The biological science test load tank is a highly sealed pressure vessel. After experiencing severe mechanical tests at launch and landing stages, the biological science test load was put on the first day of the lunar landing on Chang'e four (January 3rd). At 23:18, the power was booed and the main camera was taken to photograph. At 23:48, after sending instructions to the ground control center, the plant seed and fruit fly eggs were fired at the end of the launch site for two months, and the space flight for nearly a month was dormant, and entered the biological lunar growth and development mode. At 8 in January 5th, ground data showed that the seeds in the load had developed into radicle.

The ground tank was divided into water at 23:50, 01, 03, 2019, the first day of experiment.

Open space on the ground, 2019 01, 03, the first day of water injection.

In January 12, 2019, the 20:03:34 ground sent a power outage instruction of biological science test load, and the load was turned off normally. "From the boot to the power failure, the biological science test load is in good working condition on the track. The cumulative working time is as long as 212.75 hours, and the main and secondary cameras take 34 pictures and more than 170 pictures. Maintain good continuous communication with the whole device, and send real-time telemetry data such as temperature, voltage and air pressure. Through the analysis of the photo and telemetry data, the water in the equipment has fully infiltrated the soil, and the temperature and pressure are fully in conformity with the requirements of biological growth and development, and the design targets are reached, and some of the targets are more than expected. Deputy director of the joint research center for deep space exploration of the Ministry of education, chief designer of biological science experiment load, and Professor Xie renewal, Dean of the Institute of advanced technology, Chongqing University.

Ground tank, 2019, 01, 07, fourth days, main camera, 87h after water injection.

Open space on the ground, (left) 2019, 01, 07, fourth days, nutrient soil, water injection after 81h; (right) 2019 01 months 07 days, fourth days, vermiculite, water injection after 81h

"This is the first time that human beings have done biological growth tests on the moon. Scientists have carried out many biological tests on the space station and other spacecrafts, but there have never been any tests on the moon. The biological science test load has preliminarily realized the first human lunar biological test, and produced the first plant buds on the barren moon. With the passage of time, it has successfully realized the first human green leaves growing on the moon in the past. It is of great significance to provide the research foundation and experience for the future establishment of the moon base for mankind. Xie said.

In order to further highlight the scientific research and popular science value of this biological science popularization test load, the biological science test load project group also carried out the ground and month contrast experiment at Chongqing University, and compared the growth and development of the same ecosystem (closed space) under different conditions of the earth and moon and under the natural conditions (open space).

Ground tank, 2019, 01, 12, Ninth days, main camera, 212h after water injection.

Open space on the ground, (01) 12 days, 2019, Ninth days, vermiculite, 212h after water injection; (next) 2019, 01, 12, Ninth days, potato seedlings in vermiculite

According to the introduction of team members responsible for biological modules, the controlled trials were divided into closed environment 1:1 control and open environment controlled trials. At 23:50 in the evening of January 3rd, the ground test load was synchronized with the monthly load. The whole ground control test is based on the temperature of the biological popular test load on orbit, and the ground control is controlled by temperature, which is consistent with the working temperature on the track. As of January 12th, the seeds of cotton and rape seeds were gradually germinated in the ground controlled experimental tank, and the growth was good, and the cotyledons were observed. Under open environment, seed germination of rape, cotton and potato can be seen, and seedlings grow vigorously.

According to the introduction, the biological science test load after the moon water injection for germination and growth experiments, after 9 days into the moonlit night. At present, the biological science test load has entered the power failure state. Under the condition that the temperature of the lunar night is below 52 degrees Celsius, the six organisms will end the mission of the popular science experiment and are frozen. After the diurnal temperature rises in the next month, the six organisms will be decomposed into harmless organic substances and will be permanently sealed inside the biological science test load in the fully enclosed biological science test load tank.

(part of it comes from CCTV news and Chongqing University 100).