Tianzhou-9 Mission Delivers Supplies and Scientific Research to Tiangong Space Station

The Tianzhou-9 cargo spacecraft successfully docked with the Tiangong space station's Tianhe core module. The mission delivered a wide range of supplies, including a substantial amount of food and scientific experiment materials.

The cargo vessel brought over 1.5 tons of food for the crew aboard the Tiangong space station. The food manifest included over 190 varieties, with more than 90 types of side dishes. The menu featured homestyle Chinese favorites such as mapo tofu, tomato and egg stir-fry, and cumin potatoes. These dishes, while seemingly ordinary, required significant technological advancements to prepare for space consumption.

This innovation aims to improve astronauts' dietary experience. The goal is to provide staples, side dishes, ready-to-eat items, condiments, and even fresh fruits and vegetables. The focus is on ensuring astronauts can enjoy familiar tastes while in orbit.

In addition to food, the Tianzhou-9 spacecraft carried a significant batch of scientific experiment materials. Twenty-three payloads, totaling nearly 780 kilograms, were delivered for various research purposes. One study aims to find new ways to counteract muscle atrophy in space.

The experiment focuses on understanding how skeletal muscle stem cells behave under microgravity. This research aims to uncover molecular mechanisms behind muscle loss and identify key regulatory factors that could help prevent or reverse the process.

Another major science payload onboard Tianzhou-9 focuses on the effects of spaceflight on the human nervous system. Researchers aim to better understand how space-related factors such as microgravity and radiation affect brain function. This neuroscience experiment will use organoid-on-a-chip models derived from human pluripotent stem cells to explore how space environments affect the human blood-brain barrier and brain function. This research will provide tools for risk assessment and intervention strategies to safeguard astronauts' health during long-term missions.