Recent progresses on space life science research in China

Abstract

In the past decades, China has made significant progress on space life science research. Since completing the construction of the China Space Station (CSS) at the end of 2022, space life science research in China has entered a new era. Through carrying out numerous experiments on space life sciences, space medicine, and space agriculture conducted aboard the Shenzhou series, the CSS, and ground-based space environment simulation platforms, Chinese scientists have uncovered the effects of the space environment on the physiological and molecular mechanisms of live organisms. These findings provide essential theoretical support for long-term manned space exploration. In this article, we review the new discoveries made by Chinese researchers, focusing on the impacts of both actual and simulated space environment on cells, microorganisms, plants, animals, and human health.