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Tiangong space station life support advancements

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2026-09-21 19:41 UTC → 2026-09-22 11:04 UTC · added ~~removed~~

China’s Tiangong space station is advancing its life support and sustenance capabilities through technological upgrades in food preparation and orbital agriculture. Recent developments include the introduction of specialized culinary equipment designed for microgravity, such as an air fryer with a steam elimination system to prevent moisture dispersion, a leak-proof microwave, and a water dispenser. These tools support an expanded nutritional program featuring a rotating 10-day menu of approximately 200 ingredients. Simultaneously, the station has achieved milestones in space cultivation, successfully growing more than 20 varieties across 14 plant species, including lettuce, carrots, sunflowers, potatoes, and wheat. Utilizing substrate-based and aeroponic methods, this research into controlled ecological life support aims to create closed ecosystems for regenerating food, water, and air. During an aerospace medical engineering conference in Tianjin, the China Astronaut Center confirmed these achievements. Astronaut Zhang Hongzhang provided visual evidence of the “space garden,” noting that wheat has already completed a full growth cycle from seed to maturity, with a second round of planting currently underway. These advancements serve as a foundation for long-term missions and future goals, such as establishing a “lunar vegetable garden” for China’s lunar exploration program.

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