China planning to send mini-ecosystems to Moon

In an attempt to study how the organisms develop on the lunar surface, China is planning to send mini ecosystems enclosing potato seeds and silkworm eggs – to the Moon next year. The mini-ecosystem of 3-kilogramme developed by research teams led by Chongqing University in China.It will be sent to the Moon by the Chang’e 4 scheduled to launch in 2018, authorities announced at the Global Space Exploration Conference.

An 18-centimetre-tall cylinder will carry potato seeds and silkworm eggs to be incubated. The silkworms will hatch and create carbon dioxide, while the potato plants will generate oxygen, Zhang Yuanxun, who designed the ecosystem, was quoted as saying by ‘Global Times’.

Xie Gengxin who is the chief designer on the project, mentioned that their mission is to prepare for future moon landings and possible human inhabitants. China is planning a manned mission to the Moon, and officials have announced that the preliminary preparations for the lunar landing have begun.