In the water tank on the Thien Cung space station, zebrafish display unusual behaviors such as swimming backwards and spinning around. However, despite these peculiar movements, they remain healthy. The fish and algae were launched into space aboard the Shenzhou-18 spacecraft at the end of April as part of a research project led by China’s Academy of Sciences (CAS). This is China’s first orbital aquatic ecology study and the first vertebrate farming experiment in space.
The Tiangong space station orbits Earth at an altitude of 340-450 km, similar to the International Space Station (ISS). The astronauts responsible for this mission have been collecting water samples and replacing the fish food canisters. Due to the microgravity environment in which they reside, zebrafish exhibit unusual behaviors like swimming backwards and turning around.
Zebrafish are commonly used for genetic and developmental studies due to their genetic similarities to humans. Research conducted on the Tiangong station will investigate how microgravity and radiation affect biological systems, potentially reducing bone loss in astronauts. Additionally, fish egg samples will be collected for further analysis.
One particularly intriguing aspect of this research is that zebrafish embryos are transparent, allowing scientists to observe their development from fertilization. The self-sustaining aquatic ecosystem on the space station, where algae and fish support each other, provides valuable insights into maintaining life support systems for long-term space missions. Overall, this study will contribute significantly to our understanding of living in space and its challenges.
