Translation. Region: Russian Federation –
Source: People's Republic of China in Russian – People's Republic of China in Russian –
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Source: People's Republic of China – State Council News
BEIJING, Nov. 5 (Xinhua) — A video of four mice living aboard the Chinese space station with the Shenzhou 21 crew was recently transmitted to Earth, showing the little animals in good spirits and clearly feeling well.
The video shows the cosmonauts removing equipment for the mouse experiments from a special transport bag. They then deployed the equipment into orbit and connected it to a power source. Once activated, the device maintained a stable internal temperature of approximately 26 degrees Celsius.
In the video, the mice appear lively and well-adapted, taking turns resting in hiding places inside the equipment and occasionally actively climbing the walls of the cages.
They quickly found the rodent food and began eating, moving their heads slightly, demonstrating normal feeding behavior after arriving at the space station. Their shelters also proved functional, providing the mice with a sense of security.
When the equipment was first unpacked, floating feces and food debris were visible inside. After turning on the equipment, a directed airflow was activated, blowing hairs, feces, and other debris onto a sticky surface at the bottom, thereby providing a clean and hygienic environment for the mice.
As a key model animal in life science research, mice have several advantages, including high genetic similarity to humans, small body size, short reproductive cycle, and high susceptibility to genetic modification, said Huang Kun, an expert from the Space Application Engineering and Technology Center of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS).
“These features make them ideally suited for studying physiological and pathological processes, as well as the growth, development and reproduction of living organisms in space,” he said.
To qualify as "astronaut animals," the mice underwent a series of rigorous tests designed to assess their physical and psychological adaptability.
The first stage assessed physical fitness, with the mice placed on a specially designed "exercise bike"—essentially a rotating, accelerating barbell on which they had to maintain their position for a set period of time. This tested their strength, endurance, and grip.
The next step was to test their resistance to motion sickness. Using a two-dimensional rotating device, the researchers subjected the mice to prolonged, multidirectional rotation, helping them adapt to the conditions that might arise during spaceflight.
Additionally, a behavioral screening was conducted. By suspending mice upside down, the researchers observed their reactions to struggle, identifying those that actively resisted and defining them as more resilient "optimists." Maze tests further assessed their spatial perception and adaptive skills, confirming that they could navigate and find food even in zero-gravity conditions.
According to experts, after completing all the tests, the mice were placed in compact cages simulating the conditions of a space capsule. This allowed them to adapt to the limited living conditions they would encounter in orbit. Ultimately, the four mice that showed the best results received "boarding passes" for the space flight.
By collecting preliminary data on stress responses and adaptation mechanisms in microgravity, scientists may eventually use such observations to decipher how weightlessness and confined spaces affect the behavior of mice.
After completing their orbital mission, the "astronaut mice" will return to Earth aboard the Shenzhou 20 spacecraft for further analysis.
"The results obtained will be crucial for assessing the possibility of long-term human survival and reproduction in space, and may also provide information useful for human health on Earth," Huang Kun said, adding that the experiment will be an important step forward in developing China's capabilities in space life research. -0-
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