Chinese Astronauts Successfully Grow Rice Aboard Space Station

In a breakthrough experiment that could lead the way for astronauts to plant food in space to support longer journeys, Chinese astronauts have successfully grown rice seedlings onboard the Tiangong Space Station. 

According to Interesting Engineering, while other space contingents have previously conducted other rice experiments while in orbit, this is the first to go through the entire life cycle of the plant—beginning from a seed till the grown plant produced new ones. 

As reported by China Daily, the experiment started on July 29, 2022, with the seedlings of the dwarf rice type growing to about two inches, while its taller counterpart reached an estimated 12 inches in height. 

Zheng Huiqiong, a researcher at the Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, told the publication the rice was “growing very well,” alongside seedlings from a flowering plant of the mustard family. 

The astronauts on board the station will continue to keep a close watch on the plants, preparing to collect the new seeds and bring them back to Earth for further studies to be conducted, such as how microgravity affects its flowering time on a molecular level. 

Interestingly, rice has often played a large role in space. The site noted that it has been a staple food for astronauts since the space race began, with travelers onboard the Apollo 11 mission, the first men on the moon, eating freeze-dried chicken and rice on the journey. 

Will rice feature heavily yet again when humankind heads to Mars? If it’s able to be cultivated aboard space stations, the grain will definitely serve as a sustainable food source for long-term explorations. 

[via Interesting Engineering and China Daily, cover image via Theanthonium | Dreamstime.com]