China put into space a retrievable¹ scientific research satellite in the early hours of Wednesday in a fresh bid to aid scientists back on Earth in studying microgravity and space life science.

 

本周三早些时候，中国将一颗可回收式科研卫星送入轨道，通过卫星帮助科学家研究微重力与空间生命。

 

In a cloud of brown smoke, the satellite, SJ-10, roared into the air on the back of a Long March 2-D rocket from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwestern China's gobi desert.

 

While in space, the bullet-shaped probe will house 19 experiments involving microgravity fluid physics, microgravity combustion², space material, space radiation effect, microgravity biological effect and space bio-technology, before coming back to Earth with results. 

 

On-board experiments were selected from a pool of over 200 applicants³.

 

They include one that will study early-stage development of mouse embryos⁴ in microgravity to shed light on human reproduction in space, and another studying space radiation effects on genetic⁵ stability of fruit flies and rat cells.

 

A "Soret Coefficient in Crude Oil" experiment in partnership⁶ between the National Space Science Center under CAS and the European Space Agency (ESA) is also onboard together with an investigation⁷ of coal combustion and pollutant⁸ formation under microgravity. The former test is aimed to improve scientists' understanding of oil reservoirs buried kilometers underground, while the latter is expected to help enhance energy efficiency and cut emissions⁹.

 

"All experiments conducted on SJ-10 are completely new ones that have never been done before either at home or abroad," said Hu Wenrui, chief scientist of the SJ-10 mission.

 

"They could lead to key breakthroughs in our academic research," Hu said.

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