Space "artificial embryo" samples and other life science experiments delivered by the Tianzhou-10 cargo spacecraft have been installed into experiment modules aboard China's Tiangong space station, the Technology and Engineering Center for Space Utilization under the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) said on Wednesday.
The "artificial embryos" are stem cell-derived artificial human embryos. The embryos, though not true life forms and unable to develop into human babies, will help simulate the earliest stages of human development.
Once the experiments are completed, the artificial embryo samples will be frozen in orbit and then returned to Earth on a future mission for side-by-side analysis with ground-based controls in laboratories on the ground.
This effort is part of a broader suite of 41 space science experiments being deployed aboard Tiangong, supporting its latest round of research on the orbiting laboratory.
China launched the Tianzhou-10 cargo craft from the Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site on Monday morning.
Tianzhou-10 is expected to remain docked in orbit for one year. Since the Tianzhou series cargo ships entered service, their mission durations have increased from about six months to nine-ten months, according to the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation.
The mission is the fifth cargo resupply flight of China's manned space program since the space station entered its application and development phase. It is also the 641st mission of the Long March rocket series.
Artificial embryo samples aboard Tiangong Space Station for life science research
Slovak President Peter Pellegrini visited the world's first embodied intelligence robot 4S store, known as Robot Mall, at Beijing E-Town on Tuesday.
Pellegrini is paying a state visit to China from July 27 to 29 at the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping. He toured highlights of this year's Humanoid Robot Half Marathon Competition and interacted with humanoid and medical robots during a stop at Robot Mall.
Expressing amazement at China's robotics achievements, the Slovak president said he believes the cutting-edge technology showcased at the venue will find its way into households in the near future.
Robot Mall is designed to support the transition of robotics from technological innovation to real-world application. Its exhibition highlights how robots are entering homes and industrial scenarios, including education, delivery, companionship, entertainment, and daily services. When touring the exhibition, Pellegrini also shared his views on China-Slovakia cooperation in cutting-edge technologies.
"Slovakia is a small country, but things which are developed in China can be used already in Slovakia. So I think we have to find a way how to implement them as soon as possible into our daily life, into our companies and so on," he said.
Chinese investment in Slovakia has continued to grow in recent years, particularly in high-tech industries, green energy, and innovation-driven sectors.
Analysts say closer cooperation in modern technology and research will remain a key topic during his visit to China.
Slovak President visits robot mall at Beijing E-Town
Slovak President visits robot mall at Beijing E-Town
