Cotton sprouts is growing on the Moon, China creates history

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This is the first time humans have done biological growth experiments on the lunar surface
This is the first time humans have done biological growth experiments on the lunar surface

New Delhi : After a successful landing on the dark side of the moon, China, yet again has made history by growing cotton sprout seeds in the lunar space.

The cotton seeds have been taken by Beijing's Chang'e-4 probe which has now emerged from a lattice-like structure inside a canister since the probe set down earlier this month. The big news has been noticed from a series of photos released by the Advanced Technology Research Institute at Chongqing University.

"This is the first time humans have done biological growth experiments on the lunar surface," said Xie Gengxin, who initiated the design of the experiment.

The Chang'e-4 probe has been named after a Chinese moon goddess, made the world's first soft landing on the moon's "dark side" on January 3, an important step in China's ambitions to become a space superpower.

The probe container an artificial, self-sustaining mini biosphere, carried soil from Earth with cotton seeds, potato seeds, yeasts and fruit fly eggs.

Scientists from Chongqing University who designed the "mini lunar biosphere" experiment has sent an 18-centimetre (seven-inch) bucket-like container holding air, water and soil.

Chang'e-4 is engineered with instruments developed by scientists from Sweden, Germany and China to study the lunar environment, cosmic radiation and the interaction between solar wind and the moon's surface.

The lander released a rover, named Yutu-2, that will perform experiments in the Von Karman Crater.

The space agency in China said four more lunar missions are planned, confirming the launch of a probe by the end of 2019 to bring samples from the moon.