Chinese astronauts could be set to enjoy an upgraded diet in the future as the crew members of the Shenzhou-21 mission get ready to reap a bountiful harvest of freshly-grown tomatoes from their very own in-orbit vegetable garden aboard the Tiangong space station.
Amid the ongoing Spring Festival holiday, which sees millions of Chinese gather for family reunions and enjoy grand festive dinners to welcome the Chinese New Year back on Earth, the astronauts in space may soon be able to tuck into some tasty foods of their own, as their prized tomatoes enter their ripe season.
The three crew members had already enjoyed something of a first in space when they indulged in a special space barbecue after bringing a hot-air oven to space back in November, sharing in a mouthwatering meat feast with the predecessor crew of Shenzhou-20 during their brief handover period aboard the space station.
Now, however, they are focusing their efforts on healthier ingredients. So far, 10 batches of seven plant species, including lettuce, cherry tomatoes and sweet potatoes, have been cultivated at the space station, providing astronauts with more fresh fruits and vegetables and the chance for a much more balanced nutrition intake during their six-month-long mission.
Astronaut Zhang Hongzhang introduced the unique sci-fi looking contraption which is being used to carefully cultivate the cherry tomatoes.
"This tomato cultivation device is called 'water aeroponic cultivation' and was developed by a research team from the China Astronaut Research and Training Center (CARTC). It can significantly increase the utilization rate of water through water evaporation. On the other hand, an LED spectrum has been specially customized, which can significantly improve the efficiency of energy utilization. As a result, we can see a thriving picture of space tomatoes growing," said Zhang.
The cultivation device had been carried to the space station by the Tianzhou-9 cargo craft in July last year. It is mainly used to verify key technologies for efficient plant aeroponic cultivation in a microgravity environment.
"Currently in orbit, we take care of it and record its growing data every day. While providing valuable planting data in orbit, it will be of very good reference value to the cultivation of space crops in later missions," said astronaut Wu Fei.
Relying on the cultivation device, researchers can systematically carry out research on multiple subjects such as in-orbit efficient plant cultivation, fruit and vegetable production and evaluation in space, atmospheric regeneration capacity and efficiency, and in-orbit plant care models.
The aeroponic cultivation experiments are also planned to be carried out on wheat, carrots and medicinal and edible plants in the future.
Launched into space on Oct 31 last year, the Shenzhou-21 crew is now over 100 days into its six-month space mission. All tasks including scientific experiments, equipment maintenance and health management are progressing smoothly, according to China's space agency -- China National Space Administration.
Chinese astronauts to expand in-orbit menu as space-grown tomatoes ready for harvest
Chinese astronauts to expand in-orbit menu as space-grown tomatoes ready for harvest
As the conflict in the Gaza Strip enters its third year, Palestinians are facing a catastrophic humanitarian crisis marked by widespread destruction, severe shortages, and systemic displacement.
Amid the widespread destruction, they are navigating their individual stories of loss, injury, and displacement as they are struggling to rebuild their lives.
Before the conflict which erupted in October 2023, painting was Areej Al-Saafin's passion. However, her brother was killed and her family home was damaged. Al-Saafin and her mother are among the more than 174,000 Palestinians wounded in the war. Having lost one eye, the artist said the trauma has profoundly changed her perspective and her craft.
"As a woman in Gaza, I am destroyed psychologically and physically. I no longer have the same passion as before. Physically, I lost my eye, and I can't focus on painting like I used to," Al-Saafin said.
While large parts of Gaza have been reduced to rubble, some residents are finding their ways to restart their businesses amid the destruction. In eastern Gaza City, Basel Al-Batsh operates a small recycling workshop, producing parts that have become increasingly difficult to obtain due to closed crossings. His own factory was destroyed in the war, forcing him to start over with fewer resources.
"We collect aluminum from the rubble of destroyed homes and recycle it into parts that are no longer allowed into Gaza through the closed crossings, such as generator components and spare parts for cars and trucks," Al-Batsh said.
For others, rebuilding means regaining basic mobility. Omar Halawa was twelve when an Israeli airstrike cost him his right leg. Now thirteen, he is among thousands of war-related amputees in a territory which the United Nations says is home to the largest cohort of child amputees in modern history. Halawa is still waiting for a suitable prosthetic leg.
"I dream of living a good life in a safe place and getting a prosthetic leg so I can walk normally, play football with my friends and go swimming," Halawa said.
Meanwhile, some women who lost limbs in the conflict have begun their journey back to the football pitch. On a field in central Gaza, young women train on crutches as part of Palestine's first women's amputee football team. Among them is 24-year-old Rozan Khaira, a former runner.
"I joined the team because I was already an athlete. Sports have been part of my life since childhood, and my family is also very athletic. Losing my leg will not stop me from pursuing my dreams and favorite hobbies," Khaira said.
The war has taken a massive toll on the younger generation, with more than 21,000 Palestinian children killed since the conflict began. For some displaced children, recovery is taking the form of music. Inside temporary learning spaces, they are finding a different sound from the war around them, using music to learn, play, and feel like children again. Ghazal Abu Jibba is learning to play the violin.
"We now come every day because the music makes us feel better, especially given the conditions we are living through. We want the war to end so that we, as children, can live in peace and safety," Abu Jibba said.
Across the devastated enclave, tens of millions of tonnes of rubble remain, standing in the way of reconstruction. Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump's vision of turning Gaza into what he called the "Riviera of the Middle East", a plan linked to the relocation of Palestinians, has met widespread rejection. Despite the ruins, many remain determined to stay on their land.
After three years of war, more than 74,000 Palestinians have been killed, and most of Gaza's homes have been destroyed or damaged. Yet amid the loss and pain, Gazans continue to rebuild their lives, holding on to the hope for a better future.
Palestinians in Gaza struggling to rebuild their lives amid widespread destruction
